"In the bleak mid-winter" [Gustav Holst, arr. Glenn Haynes]

"In the bleak mid-winter" [Gustav Holst, arr. Glenn Haynes]

Part of: "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming and In the Bleak Mid-Winter"

Holst, Gustav; music (English, 1874-1934)

Haynes, Glenn; arrangement

2002 [publication] [copyright]

Charlotte: Alry

genre: Christmas music|carol|instrumental|song|song cycle|sacred music

instrumentation: saxophone

initial sharps/flats: one sharp

initial time signature: 4/4

male composer

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

Place in the larger work: The second song of two in the song cycle called "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming and In the Bleak Mid-Winter," which includes 1. "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" (15th century German melody); 2. "In the Bleak Mid-winter" (Christina Rossetti).

Tempo markings: "Agitato"; quarter note = 138

Performance instructions: For saxophone quartet. "This setting of In the Bleak Mid-Winter paints the blustery winter condition that Rossetti prescribes in her traditional (European) description of the nativity. Alto and, especially Tenor, work hard to sustain the perpetual motion of the ostinato (wind). Dynamics will be particularly important to make the wind dance. Soprano sings the melody; Baritone establishes the modality. At 'Snow had fallen...," Soprano, Alto, and Tenor use the accents to set up a delicate rhythmic interest in their snow pattern. I imagined looking up at night at the snow coming down through the light of a street light. The Very tenderly treats the deeply personal fourth stanza. Slow, soft, and rubato will help bring the introspection."

Notes: This arrangement of Gustav Holst's 1906 setting of "In the Bleak Mid-winter" is paired with "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming."

Format 1: musical score

3 pages

Other data reference(s): Record for "Lo, how a rose e'er blooming ; and, In the bleak mid-winter : for saxophone quartet." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53206073. Accessed 24 April 2019.

Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa

musical score: Morriset Library, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Record: CRM-christmascarolinthebleak-holst-haynes

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