Holiday Pops Music ~
Chorus & Orchestra
“In the Bleak Midwinter”
(An arrangement of the Holst melody)
See Description, Instrumentation, and Text Info at bottom of page.
STATUS: Re-formatting into Sibelius — should be available in summer 2026
PRINT PRICE: $250 + S/H (This includes string parts up to 12, 12, 10, 8, 6.)
PDF PRICE: $185 for a set of PDFs of the full score and all the parts
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FULL SCORE EXCERPT / CHORAL SCORE EXCERPT
SOUND CLIPS:
♦ If you're considering this piece, please contact me to request a demo.
♦ You can hear this piece in the chamber orchestra version by clicking here.
♦ You can watch a Vimeo video of the piano acc. version by clicking here.
SCORING: Large SATB chorus, accompanied by a full orchestra —
See the “Instrumentation” tab below. / DURATION: ca. 5:00
DIFFICULTY: The choral parts are fairly easy, and the instrumental parts are only moderately challenging.
NOTE: This arrangement is also available with chamber orch. acc.
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: Large SATB chorus
WOODWINDS:
2 Flutes
1 Oboe + 1 English Horn
2 Clarinets in Bb
2 Bassoons
BRASS:
4 Horns
PERCUSSION:
2 percussionists on the following instruments: Glockenspiel, Chimes, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Mark Tree
HARP: 1 Harp
KEYBOARD: 1 Piano (acoustic or synth)
STRINGS: Ideally, a minimum of 10, 10, 8, 8, 6, but slightly less than this is also doable.
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.
