Choral ~ Holiday ~ with Keyboard
“In the Bleak Midwinter”
(An arrangement of the Holst melody)
SOUND CLIP / WATCH VIDEO ON VIMEO / SCORE SAMPLE
SCORING: SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by piano
DURATION: ca. 6:20 — DIFFICULTY: 2/5 — PAGES IN PDF SCORE: 10
HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER — PDF: $50 (for all the copies you need)
NOTE: This arrangement is also available in a chamber-orchestra version.
DESCRIPTION
This is a peaceful and introspective setting, inspired by the serenity of the beautiful poem by Christina Rossetti.
TEXT INFO
In the Bleak Midwinter
Words by Christina Rossetti, 1872
Complete text:
In the bleak midwinter,
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone.
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.
Our God, Heav'n cannot hold Him,
Nor earth sustain.
Heav'n and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day:
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay.
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before:
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air.
But only His dear mother,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give Him:
Give my heart.
