In the Bleak Midwinter {Robert Shaw}

"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a Christmas carol.

Although the lyrics were written as a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti before 1872, it was published posthumously in Rossetti's Poetic Works in 1904 and became a Christmas carol after it appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906 with a setting by Holst.

According to the website CyberHymnal, Rossetti wrote these words in response to a request from the magazine Scribner's Monthly for a Christmas poem.

The text of this Christmas poem has been set to music many times, the most famous settings being composed by Gustav Holst and Harold Edwin Darke in the early 20th century. There is another setting—less well known—from the same era, by Thomas B. Strong. Benjamin Britten includes a setting for chorus in his work "A Boy Was Born". Eric Thiman wrote a setting for solo voice and piano. More recently Bob Chilcott, at one time a member of The King's Singers, wrote a choral setting entitled "Mid-winter". Another recent setting is that by a Canadian, Robert C L Watson. The Holst version has been recorded by a number of popular recording artists, including Bert Jansch, Julie Andrews in 1982, Allison Crowe in 2004, Maire Brennan in 2005 and Sarah McLachlan in 2006, as well as by many choirs including the Robert Shaw Chorale and the choir of St. John's College, Cambridge. The Darke version, with its beautiful and delicate organ accompaniment, has also gained popularity among choirs in recent years, after the King's College Choir included it on its radio broadcasts of the Nine Lessons and Carols. (Incidentally, Darke served as conductor of the choir during World War II.)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• In
• the
• Bleak
• Midwinter
• Robert
• Shaw

[jimraw1]

When it comes to America's choir, the choice comes down to just two: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Cleveland and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Choruses under the direction of Robert Shaw. (I don't include the British because they also know a thing or two about choirs :D). If I ever had one regret it was not being skilled enough (or Mormon) to sing with either group.

[bartje11]

@jimraw1 You forgot the choirs of Jester Hairston and Moses Hogan, and the Robert Shaw Festivale Chorale. Possibly the best American choir ever.

[jimraw1]

@chailey1970 I agree with you that St. Olaf, Concordia and other colleges produce very fine choirs. However, I will take Robert Shaws groups, the MTC, or even Dale Warland over the colleges. Why? It's simply the maturity of voices. It's like comparing a great college football or basketball team to the pros. Yes, there is great talent, but in almost all cases the singers will get even better as they gain maturity and experience. (You would never put a Juliard ensemble over the NY Philharmonic...)

[MOZ1175]

@tbwalden Here Here! I so agree and thank You! So many go for straight tone even in the most mature voices when it deprives us a much richer, fuller tone quality, not to mention the emotion that genuinely displays. I love Robert Shaw ensembles for these reasons and so much more. Thank You!!!

[jezichael]

Beautiful arrangement.

[alanthedrum]

The Spinners (Liverpool) did a lovely folk version. Pete Seeger style with full audience participation.

[lynnfamily4]

This is like the best ever.

[maxbatch70]

ALL the choirs, chorale, symphony mentioned ALL give GLORY TO OUR GOD

[rtegeler1]

Do not forget about The Nordic Choir of Luther College or the Great Simpson College madrigal singers.

[tbwalden]

@bartje11 Can you possibly compare these groups to Robert Shaw? The mere polish he places upon these ensembles is stunning. We can not chide a maestros decisions. They belong because! T.

[terryirv]

What a beautiful song. Great to hear at Christmas!

T.I U.K

[cherokeegrrrrl100]

This is beautiful! I shoud imagine this is as close to the sounds of Heaven that I will ever hear until the day that my Lord God has prepared for me.

[chailey1970]

And I agree with you that maturity of voice can take a choir to places that youth cannot go. I do not, however, believe that comparison can be made across these ranges - apples to oranges, so to speak. The professional groups are a different animal from the collegiate for precisely the reason of maturity - this time of group. When you have returning singers year after year (rather than four-and-out) and the opportunity to create a long-term "sound", it makes for some wonderful music!