Set to text by John Drinkwater, Expectancy is similar in style to the 2003 work That Music Always Round Me in its ensemble, length, structure and homophonic texture. Typical of Skempton, it appears deceptively simple, making use of repetition and carefully placed harmonies which shift subtly to match the text. A beautiful setting which was commissioned by Warwick University in celebration of 30 years of the Coull Quartet's residency and first performed by the Coull Quartet and University of Warwick Chamber Choir on 7 March 2008, at St Paul's Church, Hockley, Birmingham.