Now the Day Is Over

Now the Day Is Over, written in 1865 by Sabine Baring-Gould of Dalton, Yorks, England, and printed in the Church Times that same year, has become common in all English-speaking countries. Its tune, Merrial, was written by Joseph Barnby in 1968. Barnby was organist and choirmaster at St. Andrews of Wells Street in London, where he developed an outstanding choral program and championed the music of Bach. He conducted the Royal Choral Society and composed and edited music, including four hymnals, and in 1892 was knighted by Queen Victoria.