Written as an elegy in memory of his son Patrick and the poet Charles Hamilton Sorley — both killed in World War I — this choral anthem is regarded as the high-water mark of Irish composer Charles Wood's romantic Anglican church music.

This arrangement by Jonathan Corry transcribes the work for full brass band, translating Wood's vocal counterpoint and warm harmonic colours into the brass medium.

Wood set his piece to the final two stanzas of Sorley's (1895-1915) poem:

This sanctuary of my soul
Unwitting I keep white and whole,
Unlatched and lit, if Thou should'st care
To enter or to tarry there.

With parted lips and outstretched hands
And listening ears Thy servant stands,
Call Thou early, call Thou late,
To Thy great service dedicate.

The Latin title translates to 'I have been waiting and waiting.' The text contrasts the busyness of external life with a hidden, illuminated sanctuary kept ready within the soul.

As a teacher of counterpoint and fugue at Cambridge, Wood taught notable pupils including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arthur Bliss, Nicholas Gatty, Cecil Armstrong Gibbs, and W. Denis Browne — several of whom went on to compose prominent original repertoire for the brass band.

Video:

1st Old Boys Brass Band performing the work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx7nNGh7Djc

PDFs and Sheet Music:

PDFs available for instant download at https://www.brookwrightmusic.com/product-page/expectans-expectavi-brass-band

Sheet music available at:
www.brassband.co.uk (UK)
https://satradecentral.org (USA)