The Soul Considers Its Nearness to God is the second in a choral set entitled Three Songs of the Soul. Jan Luyken (1649-1712), a native of Amsterdam, lived a secluded life as a poet, artist, and engraver. In this choral setting, the melodies and harmonies aspire to express the meaning and beauty of the poet’s metaphysical ideals. Within lightly extended tonality which develops throughout the piece via expanding and contracting harmonic progressions and modulations, each voice has its own lyrical life.