Holiday Pops Music ~
CHAMBER Orchestra & Chorus
“In the Bleak Midwinter”
(An arrangement of the Holst melody)
See Description, Instrumentation, and Text Info at bottom of page.
SOUND CLIP / FULL SCORE EXCERPT
SCORING: SATB (minimal divisi), acc. by chamber orchestra* and piano
* See the “Instrumentation” tab below.
AUDIENCE: Suitable for a concert or church setting — DURATION: ca. 6:15
DIFFICULTY FOR CHORUS: 2/5 — DIFFICULTY FOR ORCHESTRA: 3/5
PDF PRICE: $200 / HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER
NOTE: This arrangement is also available with piano accompaniment. You can watch a video of the piano-accompaniment version here.
DESCRIPTION
This is a peaceful and subtly orchestrated setting of the Holst melody. All the wind instruments (and a violinist) are given solo parts throughout the arrangement.
INSTRUMENTATION
CHOIR: SATB (minimal divisi)
WOODWINDS: 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet in Bb, 1 Bassoon
BRASS: 1 Horn
PERCUSSION: 1 percussionist on the following instruments: Glockenspiel, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle
HARP: 1 Harp
KEYBOARD: 1 Piano (acoustic or electronic)
STRINGS: 4,4,2,2,1, but the violins could be reduced to 3,3 or even 2,2
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.
