"In the bleak mid-winter" [Gustav Holst, arr. Imogen Holst]
First line of lyrics: In the bleak mid-winter
genre: carol|choral music|Christmas music|sacred music|song
Rossetti poem(s): "A Christmas Carol" ("In the bleak mid-winter")
Composition history: "The melody of Carol 6 ("In the Bleak Mid-winter") is used by permission of the Trustees of the late Gustav Holst."
Performance instructions: "These short simple settings of carols are intended for village choirs and Women's Institutes where some of the singers may still be in the early stages of trying to read their notes. Each part is easy enough to be learnt by rote if necessary, and each setting is short enough for choirs to learn by heart for singing out of doors in the dark.
Holst, Gustav; music (English, 1874-1934)
Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)
Holst, Imogen; arrangement (English, 1907-1984)
Other data reference(s): "Six traditional carols : third set." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/35520104. Accessed 24 August 2020.
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
musical score: New York Public Library, New York
The Christina Rossetti in Music project website is hosted in Canada at the University of Ottawa Library, and we aim to comply with Canadian copyright laws. If you believe we have violated Canadian copyright law, please contact us at christinarossettimusic@uottawa.ca. The Christina Rossetti in Music project is strictly not for profit and intended for research and educational purposes only.
Record: CRM-christmascarolinthebleak-holst-holst
"Hope is like a Harebell" [Georgina Schuyler]
First line of lyrics: Hope is like a harebell
Rossetti poem(s): "'Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth'"
Performance instructions: For contralto or baritone. "N.B. The words should be distinctly enunciated."
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM30
Reference: Ives, Maura. Christina Rossetti: A Descriptive Bibliography. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2011.
musical score: Edison Sheet Music, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/search/?fa=segmentof:ihas.100007921.0/&q=schuyler,+georgina&st=gallery. Accessed 24 August 2020.
Record: CRM-hopeislikeaharebell-schuyler
File(s): CRM-hopeislikeaharebell-schuyler.pdf
First line of lyrics: When I am dead, my dearest
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("When I am dead, my dearest")
Place in the larger work: The first song of six in the song cycle called "Quickening," settings of Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song"; 2. "Bitter for Sweet"; 3. "Two Pursuits"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Withering"; 6. "The First Spring Day."
Composition history: "It was only relatively recently that I started reading Christina Rosetti's poetry. Having concentrated on setting a small group of poets that appealed to me, I was concerned to try pastures new for a further song cycle. Also, having had copyright difficulties with a recent choral piece, I was anxious to choose texts that were out of copyright. A number of extended sessions browsing in Waterstones led to my considering setting Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and Christina Rosetti. On first reading, all of Christina Rosetti's poems that I selected for setting were of a similar melancholy cast (like the first song in the cycle). But further exploration led me to realise that I could create a sequence of poems in which the gloomy anticipation of death gradually prefigures joyful anticipation of the life to come is paralleled by winter's gradual prefiguring of a future spring. Thus, though the cycle has a predominantly melancholy tone, it progresses towards the final joyful conclusion" (Hugill).
Tempo markings: quarter note = 60; "Andante, poco lento"
Performance history: "Quickening was premiered on 16th November 2001 at Lauderdale House, Highgate, London by David Greiner (counter-tenor), Amanda Chancellor (viola) and Paul Webster (piano)" (Hugill).
Recordings: "Quickening: Songs by Robert Hugill to Texts by English and Welsh Poets." Lyrics by Christina Rossetti, performance by Anna Huntley, mezzo-soprano, Rosalind Ventris, viola, William Vann, piano. 2017.
Hugill, Robert; music (English, born 1955)
Other data reference(s): Hugill, Robert. "Christina Rossetti in Music project." Received by Mary Arseneau. 24 August 2020.
"© Robert Hugill, London, 2001." This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The score appears on the website by kind permission of composer Robert Hugill.
4 pages (pp. 1-4); performance time 2 minutes and 30 seconds
First line of lyrics: Summer is gone with all its roses
initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats
Place in the larger work: The second song of six in the song cycle called "Quickening," settings of Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song"; 2. "Bitter for Sweet"; 3. "Two Pursuits"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Withering"; 6. "The First Spring Day."
Tempo markings: quarter note = 60; "bleak"
4 pages (pp. 5-8); performance time 2 minutes and 20 seconds
First line of lyrics: A voice said "Follow, follow"
Place in the larger work: The third song of six in the song cycle called "Quickening," settings of Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song"; 2. "Bitter for Sweet"; 3. "Two Pursuits"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Withering"; 6. "The First Spring Day."
Tempo markings: quarter note = 90; "allegro"
4 pages (pp. 9-13); performance time 2 minutes
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of six in the song cycle called "Quickening," settings of Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song"; 2. "Bitter for Sweet"; 3. "Two Pursuits"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Withering"; 6. "The First Spring Day."
Tempo markings: quarter note = 60; "gently"
4 pages (pp. 15-19); performance time 3 minutes
Place in the larger work: The fifth song of six in the song cycle called "Quickening," settings of Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song"; 2. "Bitter for Sweet"; 3. "Two Pursuits"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Withering"; 6. "The First Spring Day."
Tempo markings: quarter note = 90; "andante impetuoso"
3 pages (pp. 21-23); performance time 1 minute
First line of lyrics: I wonder if the sap is stirring yet
other version 1 - instrumentation: piano|violin|clarinet
Rossetti poem(s): "The First Spring Day"
Place in the larger work: The sixth song of six in the song cycle called "Quickening," settings of Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song"; 2. "Bitter for Sweet"; 3. "Two Pursuits"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Withering"; 6. "The First Spring Day."
Performance instructions: Other version 1: "Soprano + Piano & Violin (or Clarinet)" ("Catalogue of Compositions")
Recordings: "Quickening." Quickening: Songs by Robert Hugill to Texts by English and Welsh Poets, Performance by Anna Huntley, mezzo-soprano, Rosalind Ventris, viola, William Vann, piano, recording on 14-15 Nov. 2016 at Potton Hall, Suffolk, Andrew Walton, producer and editor, Deborah Spanton, sound engineer, Navona Records, 2017. ("Quickening") Spotify, ttps://open.spotify.com/album/6fpbMCT5JaXOrx7ujdXkMo. Accessed 20 Jul. 2021. “Quickening: No. 6, The First Spring Day.” YouTube, uploaded by Anna Huntley - Topic, 7 Sep. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFyqtaJg3x4.
Other data reference(s): "Catalogue of Compositions." Robert Hugill, https://www.roberthugill.com/music-catalogue. Acessed 20 Jul. 2021. "Quickening." Navona Records, https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6121/. Accessed 20 Jul. 2021. Hugill, Robert. "Christina Rossetti in Music project." Received by Mary Arseneau. 24 August 2020.
Cataloguer: Abby Jurgeneit and Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
"©Robert Hugill, London, 2001." This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The score appears on the website by kind permission of composer Robert Hugill.
7 pages (pp. 25-31); performance time ca. 4 minutes
First line of lyrics: O earth, lie heavily upon her eyes
Place in the larger work: The second song of three in the song cycle called "Three Nocturnes," which includes 1. "Here Sleeps"; 2. "Rest" (Christina Rossetti); 3. "Now sleeps the crimson petal" (Alfred, Lord Tennyson).
McLeod, John; music (Scottish, born 1934)
Other data reference(s): "Three nocturnes for tenor or soprano and piano." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/880397190. Accessed 24 August 2020.
First line of lyrics: The wise men left their country
Rossetti poem(s): "A Christmas Carol, for my Godchildren" ("The shepherds had an angel")
Notes about the text: This song is a setting of stanzas 2 to 5, with the final two stanzas condensed and combined.
Musical score: Royal Academy of Music Library, London
Record: CRM-christmascarolformygodchildren-lole
First line of lyrics: Christmas hath darkness
genre: sacred music|Christmas music|choral music|song|anthem
Dedication: "for John Hancorn and the Baroque Collective Singers"
Other data reference(s): "Christmas Hath Darkness (2013)." Ed Hughes Composer, https://edhughescomposer.com/christmas-hath-darkness. Accessed 25 August 2020.
"© E. Hughes, 2013" This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The scores appear on this website by kind permission of composer Ed Hughes.
"Love Came Down at Christmas" [Kenneth Finlay]
First line of lyrics: Love came down at Christmas
genre: sacred music|carol|Christmas music|choral music|song|anthem
Performance instructions: Organ accompaniment is optional.
Dedication: "To George J. Dryden and the Choir of Broomhill Church, Glasgow."
Finlay, Kenneth; music (British, 1882-1974)
"Easter Carol"; "Spring bursts to-day" [Martin Shaw]
First line of lyrics: Spring bursts today
Composition history: "By kind permission of Messrs. Macmillan & Co."
Tempo markings: "Allegro vivace"; half note = "about 100"
Shaw, Martin [Edward Fallas]; music (English, 1875-1958)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 3466
Reference: Gooch, Bryan N.S. and David S. Thatcher. Musical Settings of Early and Mid-Victorian Literature: A Catalogue. New York: Garland, 1979.
Reference: Ezust, Emily. The LiederNet Archive. http://www.lieder.net/lieder/index.html
musical score: Reid Music Library, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
London: J. Curwen & Sons Ltd.; New York: G. Schirmer Inc.
1917 [publication ] [copyright]; 1945 [U.S.A. copyright renewed]
"Copyright, 1917, by J. Curwen & Sons Ltd. Copyright, U.S.A. renewed 1945"
First line of lyrics: Come to me in the silence of the night
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of six in the song cycle called "Suite of Six Texts," which includes 1. "The Argument of His Book" (Robert Herrick); 2. "An Epitaph upon a Virgin" (Robert Herrick); 3. "Epigram" (Alexander Pope); 4. "Echo" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "Mercury's Song to Phaedra (Amphitryon)" (John Dryden); 6. "Music, When Soft Voices Die" (Percy Shelley).
Notes about the text: "Acknowledgement is gratefully made to Macmillan Services Limited, London, original publishers of the text."
Williams, Ronald Ray; music (American, born 1929)
musical score: York University Library, Toronto
"© 1974 by Ronald Ray Williams. All rights reserved."
"In the Round Tower at Jhansi" [Stanley Hawley]
First line of lyrics: A hundred, a thousand to one
Rossetti poem(s): "In the Round Tower at Jhansi"
Composition history: "This poem is reprinted by permission of Messrs Macmillan & Co."
Performance instructions: "The pianoforte part to be considered as a setting of the poetical accent. The bars always precede the accented syllable and in the event of a long phrase in one bar a second shorter bar precedes the less accented syllable. If there should be any doubt as to the scansion of the lines as set, the relative value of each syllable will be shown by notes of such value as is required. When the voice does not commence with the first note of the bar rests are used. The silent bars (for reciter) must be carefully remembered. In every case the pianoforte part to be treated as an accompaniment, never louder than the voice, and to take the varying tempi always from the reciter. The marks of expression apply to both piano and voice. N.B. It is only necessary for voice and accompaniment to be together on the first syllable after the bar line. The reciter is otherwise free."
Recordings: "In the Round Tower at Jhansi." Romantic Melodrama. Lyrics by Christina Rossetti, performance by Pamela Hunter, reciter, Koen Kessels, piano. Koch Discover Int'l, 1994.
Hawley, Stanley; music (British, 1867–1916)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM141
Other data reference(s): "Discover romantic melodrama : "I hear no sound"." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/703151315. Accessed 27 August 2020.
musical score: Royal Academy of Music, London
First line of lyrics: A ring upon her finger
Rossetti poem(s): "'A ring upon her finger'"
Composition history: Daubney notes that he included several "hidden motifs" within the music: "both the fragments I’ve used were written in 1842 (Mendelssohn Wedding March from Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Wagner’s Bridal Chorus (Bridal Chorus Lohengrin 1850) during Christina’s lifetime. It seemed appropriate to the words to include these two in the setting of the poem about Bride and Groom. I’m not sure they’re used in Canada in the same way but they feature in many weddings in the UK. They are concealed (mainly) in the bass part" (Daubney).
Daubney, Brian Blyth; music (English, born 1929)
Other data reference(s): Daubney, Brian Blyth. "Hidden Motifs." Received by Mary Arseneau. 2 July 2019.
This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The score appears on the website by kind permission of Brian Blyth Daubney.
"When I am dead, my dearest" [Sjef Frenken]
Frenken, Sjef; music (Canadian, born in Netherlands, 1935)
This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The score appears on the website by kind permission of Sjef Frenken.
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-frenken.pdf
"What art thou thinking of?" [John Ireland]
First line of lyrics: "What art thou thinking of," said the mother
Recordings: "What art thou thinking of." Songs, John Ireland. Performance by Alfreda Hodgson, contralto, Alan Rowlands, piano, recorded in association with the John Ireland Trust, vol. 3, Lyrita, 1975-1979. LP.
Notes: Published in the collection, "Lost Content and Other Songs", Galliard, London, 1976.
Ireland, John [Nicholson]; music (English, 1879-1962)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4645
Cataloguer: Emma-Catherine Wilson and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
musical score: Ireland, John. "What art thou thinking of?" The Complete Works for Voice and Piano, vol. 2, Stainer & Bell Ltd., 1981, pp. 54-59.
London: Galliard; London: Stainer & Bell Ltd
1924 [composition]; 1976 [publication] [copyright]; 1981 [publication]
First line of lyrics: Your brother has a falcon
Rossetti poem(s): "'Your brother has a falcon'"
Place in the larger work: The first song of eight in a song cycle called "Mother and Child," settings of Christina Rossetti nursery rhymes from "Sing Song". The songs include 1. "New Born"; 2. "The Only Child"; 3. "Hope"; 4. "Skylark and Nightingale"; 5. "The Blind Boy"; 6. "Baby"; 7. "Death-Parting"; 8. "The Garland".
Tempo markings: "Moderato"; half note = 58
Recordings: "Mother and Child." Songs, John Ireland. Performance by Alfreda Hodgson, contralto, Alan Rowlands, piano, recorded in association with the John Ireland Trust, vol. 3, Lyrita, 1975-1979. LP.
Notes: This one song from "Mother and Child" was also published separately in the same year as "Your Brother has a falcon." (Ives DM228, Gooch and Thatcher 4903)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM228; Gooch and Thatcher 4903
Other data reference(s): Craggs, Stewart R. John Ireland: A Catalogue, Discography and Bibliography. 2nd edition, Ashgate, 2007, p. 60.
Cataloguer: Mary Arseneau and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
musical score: "Mother and Child." IMSLP Petrucci Music Library, http://imslp.org/wiki/Mother_and_Child_(Ireland,_John)#IMSLP285578. Accessed 3 Jan. 2017.
London: Winthrop Rogers; New York: C. Schirmer; Boston: Boston Music
"Copyright 1918, by Winthrop Rogers Ltd."; John Ireland Trust
2 pages (pp. 8-9); performance time 1 minutes and 22 seconds
First line of lyrics: Crying, my little one
Rossetti poem(s): "'Crying, my little one, footsore and weary?'"
Place in the larger work: The second song of eight in a song cycle called "Mother and Child," settings of Christina Rossetti nursery rhymes from "Sing Song". The songs include 1. "New Born"; 2. "The Only Child"; 3. "Hope"; 4. "Skylark and Nightingale"; 5. "The Blind Boy"; 6. "Baby"; 7. "Death-Parting"; 8. "The Garland".
Tempo markings: "Moderato"; half note = 54
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM229 ; Gooch and Thatcher 4335
2 pages (pp. 10-11); performance time 1 minute and 44 seconds
File(s): CRM-cryingmylittleone-ireland.pdf
First line of lyrics: I dug and dug amongst the snow
Rossetti poem(s): "'I dug and dug amongst the snow'"
Place in the larger work: The third song of eight in a song cycle called "Mother and Child," settings of Christina Rossetti nursery rhymes from "Sing Song". The songs include 1. "New Born"; 2. "The Only Child"; 3. "Hope"; 4. "Skylark and Nightingale"; 5. "The Blind Boy"; 6. "Baby"; 7. "Death-Parting"; 8. "The Garland".
Tempo markings: "Allegretto"; dotted quarter note = 55
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM 230; Gooch and Thatcher 4477
2 pages (pp. 12-13); performance time 57 seconds
"Skylark and Nightingale" [John Ireland]
First line of lyrics: When a mounting skylark sings
Rossetti poem(s): "'When a mounting skylark sings'"
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of eight in a song cycle called "Mother and Child," settings of Christina Rossetti nursery rhymes from "Sing Song". The songs include 1. "New Born"; 2. "The Only Child"; 3. "Hope"; 4. "Skylark and Nightingale"; 5. "The Blind Boy"; 6. "Baby"; 7. "Death-Parting"; 8. "The Garland".
Tempo markings: "Allegretto"; quarter note = 58
Performance instructions: medium voice with piano accompaniment; fourth song in a cycle of eight songs setting eight rhymes from "Sing-Song": 1. "Newborn" ("Your brother has a falcon"); 2. "The Only Child" ("Crying, my little one"); 3. "Hope" (""I dug and dug amongst the snow"): 4. "Skylark and Nightingale" ("When a mounting skylark sings"); 5. "The Blind Boy" ("Blind from my birth"); 6. "Baby" ("Love me,--I love you"); 7. "Death-Parting" ("Good-bye in fear, good-bye in sorrow"); 8. "The Garland" ("Roses blushing red and white")
Notes: Was also published separately in 1918. (Craggs, p. 65)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM231; Gooch and Thatcher 4857
2 pages (pp. 14-15); performance time 49 seconds
First line of lyrics: Blind from my birth
Rossetti poem(s): "'Blind from my birth'"
Place in the larger work: The fifth song of eight in a song cycle called "Mother and Child," settings of Christina Rossetti nursery rhymes from "Sing Song". The songs include 1. "New Born"; 2. "The Only Child"; 3. "Hope"; 4. "Skylark and Nightingale"; 5. "The Blind Boy"; 6. "Baby"; 7. "Death-Parting"; 8. "The Garland".
Tempo markings: "Andante moderato"; quarter note = 84-88
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM232; Gooch and Thatcher 4239
2 pages (pp. 16-17); performance time 1 minutes and 19 seconds
File(s): CRM-blindfrommybirth-ireland.pdf
First line of lyrics: Love me,--I love you
Rossetti poem(s): "'Love me,—I love you'"
Place in the larger work: The sixth song of eight in a song cycle called "Mother and Child," settings of Christina Rossetti nursery rhymes from "Sing Song". The songs include 1. "New Born"; 2. "The Only Child"; 3. "Hope"; 4. "Skylark and Nightingale"; 5. "The Blind Boy"; 6. "Baby"; 7. "Death-Parting"; 8. "The Garland".
Tempo markings: "Allegretto"; quarter note = 92
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM233; Gooch and Thatcher 4587
2 pages (pp. 18-19); performance time 1 minute and 12 seconds
First line of lyrics: Good-bye in fear, good-bye in sorrow
Rossetti poem(s): "'Good-bye in fear, good-bye in sorrow'"
Place in the larger work: The seventh song of eight in a song cycle called "Mother and Child," settings of Christina Rossetti nursery rhymes from "Sing Song". The songs include 1. "New Born"; 2. "The Only Child"; 3. "Hope"; 4. "Skylark and Nightingale"; 5. "The Blind Boy"; 6. "Baby"; 7. "Death-Parting"; 8. "The Garland".
Tempo markings: "Moderato con moto"; dotted quarter note = 52
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM234; Gooch and Thatcher 4439
2 pages (pp. 20-21); performance time 1 minutes and 15 seconds