"In the Bleak Midwinter" [Andrea Ramsey]

"In the Bleak Midwinter" [Andrea Ramsey]

First line of lyrics: In the bleak mid-winter

Ramsey, Andrea; music (American, born 1977)

Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)

2015 [publication] [copyright]

Carl Fischer Music

genre: song|choral music

chorus: SATB voices with divisi

instrumentation: piano (for rehearsal only)|a cappella

initial sharps/flats: three flats

initial time signature: 4/4

origin: United States

female composer

English

Rossetti poem(s): "A Christmas Carol" ("In the bleak mid-winter")

Composition history: "Commissioned for the Clarksville High School Chamber Choir of Clarksville, Arkansas in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Madrigal Feast, Rebeca Pitts, conductor." "When I was approached by long-time friend Rebeca about a commission for her high school chamber choir that would involve this Rossetti text, the prospect made me very nervous. How could I look at this text and hear anything other than the famous Holst setting we all know and love? Though I'm still uncertain a fresh setting is needed, I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to work with such a great text. I hoped to maintain a carol-like quality while giving myself permission to enhance the drama in the story more than a traditional carol might allow. One example of this can be seen in m. 35 through the key change as things are a bit unsettled before landing on a root-position, major block chord at 'Christ.' Another moment of building dramatic intensity occurs at m. 59, leading into 'heart' in m. 64."

Tempo markings: "Rubato"; quarter note = 72-80

Performance instructions: "While the overall color of the piece is one of simplistic beauty, choirs should not be afraid to intensify sound and experiment with shifts in vocal color in these more dramatic moments."

Recordings: "In the Bleak Midwinter." Lyrics by Christina Rossetti, performance by Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble, 2018. Soundcloud, https://soundcloud.com/ramseya3/in-the-bleak-midwinter. Accessed 21 April 2020.

Format 1: musical score

11 pages; performance time 4 minutes and 23 seconds

Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa

This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "In the Bleak Midwinter." J.W. Pepper, https://www.jwpepper.com/In-the-Bleak-Midwinter/10509933.item#/submit. Accessed 21 April 2020.

Record: CRM-christmascarolinthebleak-ramsey

"Copyright © 2015 by Carl Fischer, LLC. International Copyright Secured. All rights reserved, including performance rights."

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.