This edition was prepared by David Greenwood — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
In the bleak midwinter
Staff Notation • Sacred, Christmas
Preview
0
0
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
In the bleak midwinter by David Greenwood — Lyrics
In the bleak midwinter frosty winds 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 astable 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:
Read full lyrics
About In the bleak midwinter
This deeply atmospheric setting of Christina Rossetti's classic text begins with a hushed, modal quality, evoking the stark imagery of the original poem. David Greenwood's SATB arrangement masterfully captures the contrast between the harshness of winter and the miraculous tenderness of the Nativity. As the piece unfolds, the voices build in intensity, reflecting the awe and wonder of the angels and the humility of the stable scene. The composer uses the choir's full range and dynamic possibilities to create moments of both quiet reverence and soaring jubilation, offering a poignant and powerful musical meditation on the Christmas story.
