PARTITIONS GRATUITES : PAROLES ET ACCORDS
- Christina Rossetti and Gustav Holst

By Holst, Gustav. Arranged by Brad Printz. For Handbells, Percussion, Windchimes. (Two-Part). Classics, Hymntune and Sacred. Print Music Single (Two-Part Mixed). 12 pages. Published by Hope Publishing Company.

((Words by Christina Rossetti)). By Gustav Holst (1874-1934) and Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706). Arranged by George L.O. Strid and Mary Donnelly. For 3-part mixed choir and keyboard. Shawnee Press. 12 pages

Arranged by Joel Raney. For SATB choir. Christmas. Octavo. 12 pages. Published by Hope Publishing Company

By Christina Rossetti and Gustav Holst (1874-1934). Arranged by Jay Rouse. SATB A Cappella. Choral. 12 pages. Published by Shawnee Press

By Gustav Holst. Arranged by Philip Sparke. (Score). ANGLO MUSIC PRESS. 16 pages. Published by Anglo Music.

By Robert Millett, Gustav Holst. Text: Robert Millett, Christina Rossetti. For SATB Choir. Level: Medium Easy / Medium (accompaniment). Duration 3:30. Published by Jackman Music Corporation.

Choral SSA choir, piano

SKU: CF.CM9773

Composed by Brady Weldon. Duration 2 minutes, 49 seconds. Carl Fischer Music #CM9773. Published by Carl Fischer Music (CF.CM9773).

ISBN 9781491164440. UPC: 680160923342. Key: C# minor. English. Christina Rossetti.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,                                                       Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;                                                               Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,                                                             In the bleak midwinter, long ago.What can I give Him, poor as I am?                                                                                        If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;                                                                         If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;                                                                        Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.The text from this beloved poem of Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) was originally published in an 1872 issue of Scribner’s Monthly, under the title A Christmas Carol. In the first of its five stanzas, the speaker describes in great detail a bitingly cold winter scene, void of both warmth and light. By the final stanza, the speaker's thoughts turn inward, asking what gift they may offer the infant Jesus, meek though they believe themselves to be.The poem was later set by English composer Gustav Holst (1874–1934) as a contribution to the English Hymnal in 1906 and remains the most popular setting today.London-born Rossetti came to be regarded not only as one of the greatest female poets of her time, but as an outspoken advocate on several societal issues, including slavery and cruelty towards animals.In this setting, word painting is of the utmost importance. Careful attention to word stress throughout the course of the piece will make the performance all the more captivating. Descriptive lines such as “frosty wind made moan” should be conveyed with swelling crescendos, like frigid gusts of frozen air.While this piece features an original tune, the beloved Holst melody is also featured briefly, beginning in m. 28. Take care to bring this out.There are plenty of other allusions to wintry scenes scattered throughout the choral parts as well as the accompaniment. I encourage you to put your sleuthing “hats” on and find them all. It will make the learning experience much more memorable and fun.