The Society of Yorkshiremen first met in London in 1687, and the gentlemen decided to make their meeting an annual event. For the fourth of these meetings, the Society commissioned Purcell to compose an Ode to accompany the feast following the opening sermon. Purcell offered Of old when heroes thought it base, better known as The Yorkshire Feast Song. It is a setting of a text by Thomas D'Urfey, who also wrote the text for Purcell's Birthday Ode, Arise, my muse (1690).

The Yorkshire Feast Song was first performed at the Yorkeshiremen's Feast in Merchant Taylors' Hall on March 27, 1690. Sections were printed in Orpheus Britannicus, and the entire work was later published by D'Urfey as "A Ode on the Assembly of the Nobility and Gentry of the City and County of York, at the Anniversary Feast, March the 27th. 1690." D'Urfey also comments that the Ode is one of Purcell's best compositions. D'Urfey's text, celebrating the outcome of the 1688 "Glorious Revolution" that overthrew Catholic rule, is filled with flattering references to York and describes events of its long history.

Giovanni Battista Draghi's From harmony, from heavenly harmony influenced Purcell's orchestration of The Yorkshire Feast Song, particularly in the use of the trumpet. Purcell employs a full Baroque orchestra, including two oboes, two recorders, strings, continuo, and two bright trumpets, which give the work a bellicose air. The chorus is in five voices and joined by two alto, one tenor, and two bass soloists. The trumpets have several independent passages and the opening "symphony" is the earliest known example of a trumpet sonata by an English composer. Oboes figure prominently in the prelude to the alto solo "The pale and purple rose," and the first tenor solo, "The bashful Thames," is one of Purcell's several songs with flute accompaniment. Throughout The Yorkshire Feast Song, Purcell's scoring is fresh and original.

Perhaps the most impressive number in The Yorkshire Feast Song is the second tenor solo, "So when the glitt'ring queen of night," on a ground bass in B minor. Purcell's ground consists of five notes encompassing two measures of 3/2 time. The first three notes of the tenor line replicate the beginning of the ground as the strings accompany in four parts, with occasional imitative passages. The constant moderate tempo, static harmony, and serene atmosphere suggest a quiet night. The most popular selection from The Yorkshire Feast Song is the duet for tenor and bass, "And in each track of glory," with its masculine pomp. The chorus parts are stirring, especially "Let the music join in a chorus divine" and the brilliant, fanfare-like finale. Elements of The Yorkshire Feast Song would find their way into each of Purcell's succeeding Odes.

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