In the Bleak Midwinter - Holst

Undoubtedly, the best Christmas carol (at least of those with theological pretention). Something about Holst's harmonies amplifies certain feelings evoked by Rosetti's legendary poem, especially found in the verses "long, long ago" and "Angels and Archangels may have gathered there", which give off the feeling of being told mythical Christmas stories as a young child.

[@goatlps]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3qpeWOKiryWeKM #OHolyNight is often voted as best carol, although I don't know if it has enough "theological pretention", whatever that is. I thought most carols were religious.

@@goatlps I don't like O Holy Night. What I was saying to say is: To me, there are two kinds of christmas songs: Those describing the theological aspect of Christmas (In the Bleak Midwinter, O Holy Night, Hark the Herald Angels etc) and those describing the "spirit" of the christmas holidays (Jingle Bells, Have Yourselves a merry little Christmas, Deck the hall etc). And of the first kind, Holst's version of Bleak Midwinter is my favourite one. English is not my first language, however, so maybe my first comment was just poorly worded.

[@jorgeabatocab]

It's not a myth, it really happened, God bless.

[@largemale8129]

The narrative world and the objective world touched when Christ came to us as a little baby. It is truly the most beautiful and most compelling event in history, story ever told. What a God so great.

[@Golightly354]

@ Both your comments were beautifully expressed. Much better than a large number of native English speakers. incidentally, my favourite part is the last verse. Always makes me cry it is so moving. And appropriate now too.

[@davidian3412]

My favourite of all hymn tunes. Holst did such a wonderful job.

[@albertenannareitsma6993]

Strange to hear this romantic-style hymn accompanied by a lute (or is it a guitar?), which gives it a sort of renaissance-flavour.

[@greenshp]

It's not a guitar. Sounds like a lute, or similar medieval instrument. You have a good ear!

[@waldenhouse]

Sounds like a lute or lyre. Beautiful.

[@patrickacwilson]

I do not find that the plucked instrument adds here -- rather detracts for my tastes and feels like it doesn't belong. This might be a function of how it's mic'd and/or played, along with the mixing of time periods as mentioned. (I laugh when it nearly sounds banjo-like in spots.)

[@k_b7341]

@@patrickacwilson A Harp, Lute or Guitar is the perfect instrument to accompany a singer, to help him keep the pitch and gently help him with the rhythm. This hasn’t changed since the the stone age, I guess..

[@lauranicholls9421]

I love this version the best. Thank you for sharing..🎶

[@ms25risa]

Thank you for posting the sheet music. I'm still trying to figure out all the differences between this and Darke's version. The sheet music truly helps. Thank you.

[@thephillard]

I was just playing this on the piano tonight! It is so wonderfully ironic that it was on the top of my recommendations list! Thank you for uploading this!

[@jakekeighley8081]

*coincidental

[@TheWanderlustWolf]

We sang this version in my freshman year of high school. Brings back such lovely memories! :)

[@buzzsbae]

+TheWanderlustWolf We're singing it right now and I'm a Freshman XD But we have to sing a different version cause apparently we are shoving religion down peoples throats when we sing it like this.

[@bustedkeaton]

+Reverse Creativity i would like if you could link me to the lyrics of the non-christian version please?

[@buzzsbae]

N Kemp I would try to link you to the Non-Christian version if I knew what my teacher had got it from. She only tells us "Here. We are singing this." So I'm not sure where she got it from. Sorry.):

[@jefharris5530]

Lovely voices!

[@gabesanderson3339]

Wheres the G half sharp major

[@arcioko2142]

yes

[@philipwilliams5808]

It fell into the valley of pretentiousness

[@fergusbyett8088]

@@philipwilliams5808 I don't think JC did it to be pretentious, I think it was an expressive choice

[@jorgeabatocab]

Thanks for posting, God bless.

[@jeffcardillo7104]

A beautiful song...

[@thofus]

Singing this as bass. Nice edition :-)

[@Mushyrulez]

3:00 'but only his mother'

[@mgraysonm]

+Mushyrulez Nice catch. I saw that also

[@alhambralions5985]

Mushyrulez This wording is true to the source.

[@JennY-os8sx]

Singing this in chorus

[@jamisondavid100]

Christ, my high school used this melody for its school anthem.... a desecration of sorts.

[@Lt.GonvilleBromhead]

Sounds kind of nice that they chose an English composer and a hymn. Most schools now would go for something by Stormzy instead.

[@EpiphanySacredMusic]

I love this - I wish I could add it to a playlist for my choir! But I can't because it's listed as "for Kids" :(

[@e.conboy4286]

But then it is miscategorized if so, it is miscategorized .

[@feragigante1]

Who came here because of Thomas Shelby? Heheh

[@jacobeppley2017]

Enzo Barzotto you know it!

[@eliashorak2047]

..by order of the peaky blinders

[@eizendragon5141]

@@eliashorak2047 yes brother, by the order of peaky fookin blinders

[@Eleison23]

The sheet music does not exactly correspond to what is being sung.

[@thepianoplayer416]

An error found on verse 4 "but His mother only" should be "but only His mother" (checked with Wikipedia the words got switched around).

[@alhambralions5985]

thepianoplayer416 "But His mother only..." is true to Christina Rosetta's poem. Some consider either wording acceptable for the song. Do remember- Wikipedia is a forum that is frequently changed, and often incorrect.

[@thepianoplayer416]

Thanks for the info. Found discrepancies in different versions of sheet music. In this version sounded like "But on_ly His mo-ther" than the other way around if you listen carefully 2:58. And in v1 there is 1 version that has "Snow on snow on snow" instead of "Snow_ on_ snow" (1 word over each of the 5 notes).

[@bozartspianoarchive3546]

I legit didnt know this was sung in English until like a minute in lmao

[@1nxxa151]

Da al realno je braco moja fajer

[@Goxion]

I'm just here for a school assignment

[@adiharyanto6152]

It's order of peaky fookin blinders

[@Julia-jz1fy]

idc what anyone says this song is so good

[@muskndusk]

This sounds exactly like the Cranham tune. What am I missing?

[@HolyKhaaaaan]

+muskndusk Nothing; Holst was the composer.

[@janeelstree4984]

Very similar. Sweet and beautiful.

[@janeelstree4984]

Very similar. Sweet and beautiful.

[@lindamiller2470]

who is doing this

[@Mousy677]

clearly the writer of these lyrics had a somewhat skewed idea of the climate and average temperature of the middle east....

[@jalfredprufrock620]

Ollie Embourne Not really. While certainly a rarer occurrence than in say Canada or Norway, snowfall and even snowstorms are not unknown across many parts of the middle east including Jerusalem, which sees a snowstorm once every few years, in contrast to say Tehran, which sees heavy snow yearly.

[@nerdguy9174]

I worked briefly in Saudi Arabia in a hospital that was at 5000 or so feet (1524 meters) above sea level. It was quite cool and other employees told me that every few years there were a few inches of snow. Also consider how bleak the topography of much of the Middle East is.

[@greenshp]

Hey, DUFUS - it was written for people living in England and Ireland. Have you absolutely no imagination at all? Shame.

[@georgeodwyer6102]

chatting shit about my girl Rossetti

[@egb625able]

It snows in afghanistan and iran, l2geography

[@gardensaladdude90]

This was the last song in our marching band show

[@openmusic3904]

With the ever increasing Islamization of the West, particularly Britain I fear that beautiful hymns like this and the rich culture of art and music will be lost forever to future generations. An absolute tragedy to have such a rich, vibrant, and creative culture forever lost in the shadows of the minarets thanks to the complacency and ineptitude of our politicians. Sorry making this political istead of just enjoying the music, but the fact western culture is dying before our eyes honestly terrifies me and the fact very few people feel the need to save and protect it terrifies me even more.

[@matthewjohnson6385]

This is the most asinine thing I have ever read on youtube.

[@bustedkeaton]

shut up and learn something instead of running your fucking mouth about reactionary white-supremacist bullshit

[@carliquiel]

this is the dumbest shit i have ever heard in my life. please, stop being an uncultured fuck and educate yourself.

[@altudy]

Thanks for the replies, Ahmed, Muhammad and Farouk.

[@SuperBartles]

Matthew Johnson how's Christian culture doing in Egypt? en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Copts

[@sb6678]

Beautiful poetry by C Rossetti, but such a depressing melody by Holst. The Harold Darke melody is far more pleasing and fitting

[@MrPlownds26]

I beg to differ.