"In the Bleak Midwinter" [Nathan Jones]

"In the Bleak Midwinter" [Nathan Jones]

First line of lyrics: In the bleak midwinter

Jones, Nathan; music (American, born 1983)

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

2011 [copyright]

Chicago: GIA Publications Inc

genre: choral music|song|Christmas music|sacred music

chorus: SATB chorus

instrumentation: a cappella|piano (for rehearsal only)

initial sharps/flats: three flats

initial time signature: 4/4

origin: United States

male composer

English

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

Notes about the text: This song is a setting of stanzas 1, 4, and 5 only. In the lyrics, the words "but only his mother" are changed to "his mother only" in line 15 of the Rossetti poem.

Composition history: On the last page of the score, the composer writes: "Gustav Holst's setting of Christina Rosetti's poem "In the bleak midwinter" is without question my favourite Christmas carol. I find the images that Rossetti paints to be beautiful and Holst's music seems like snow and ice translated into notes on the page. The melody I created in this new setting of the familiar text is simple but haunting, and is supported by warm, rich harmony in the lower voices. Occasional but colorful dissonances (indicated by tenuto marks) draw the singer and listener's ear to poignant moments in the text."

Tempo markings: quarter note = 66-72

Performance instructions: "Sweetly." "The conductor should strive to produce unique vocal colors in each verse, as is appropriate to the meaning of the text. Performers should also take note of the punctuation when considering breathing and phrasing; a sensitive use of rubato is appropriate."

Performance history: "the D.C.-based ensemble the Thirteen ... performed the first of three iterations of its holiday program at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria" to sing "35-year-old Nathan Jones's version of 'In the Bleak Midwinter.'" (Midgette, 1-2). The concert was titled "Another match lighted" and took place at 7:30 pm on 14 December 2018 (“The Thirteen Choir: ‘Another Match Lighted’ - Friday, Dec 14. 2018 / 7:30pm.”).

Recordings: "Nathan Jones In the bleak midwinter.” Performance by Rebecca Brinkley, soprano, Justine Arnson, alto, Michael Bennett, tenor, Zachary Krieger, bass. SoundCloud, uploaded by Nathan Jones, 14 May 2013, https://soundcloud.com/nathanjonesmusic/in-the-bleak-midwinter.
"The Thirteen Chamber Choir: In The Bleak Mid-Winter - Nathan Jones." Performance by The Thirteen and Matthew Robertson. SoundCloud, uploaded by TheThirteen, 9 Feb. 2016, https://soundcloud.com/thethirteen-1/the-thirteen-chamber-choir-in-the-bleak-mid-winter-nathan-jones.

Dedication: "for Dr. Dirk Garner"

Notes: This setting is part of a publishing series called "The Music from Westminster Choral Series ... which consists of choral literature commissioned or selected for performance by the choirs at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey. ... The series was created to introduce - or revive - innovative compositions into the choral literature and represents a variety of voicings, genres, and levels of difficulty."

Format 1: musical score

6 pages; performance time approx. 3 minutes

Other data reference(s): Midgette, Anne. "Holidays, unaccompanied: Vocal ensembles put seasoning in the 'seasonal'." The Washington Post.com, 19 Dec. 2018. Factiva.
“The Thirteen Choir: ‘Another Match Lighted’ - Friday, Dec 14, 2018 / 7:30pm.” Groupon, www.groupon.com/deals/goldstar-virginia-theological-seminary. Accessed 27 Feb. 2021.

Cataloguer: Lauren Lozier, University of Ottawa

This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "In the Bleak Midwinter." GIA Publishing Inc, https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/in-the-bleak-midwinter-print-g7793. Accessed 27 Feb. 2021.

Record: CRM-christmascarolinthebleak-jones

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