This edition was prepared by Stuart McIntosh — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
In the bleak midwinter
Staff Notation • Sacred, Christmas
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In the bleak midwinter by Harold Darke — Lyrics
In the bleak midwinter frosty winds 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.
Our God, Heav'n cannot hold him nor earth sustain;
Heav'n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter astable place sufficed.
The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ.
Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day,
A breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay:
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About In the bleak midwinter
A staple of the Christmas repertoire, Harold Darke's setting of Christina Rossetti's poem In the bleak midwinter captures the profound stillness and humility of the Nativity. Composed for SATB choir, this English anthem offers a contemplative reflection on the incarnation. The text contrasts the harshness of winter with the simple, unassuming nature of Christ's birth in a stable. Darke's music beautifully conveys the stark imagery of the opening lines, evolving into a rich and devotional expression of awe and wonder at the divine humility, making it a moving choice for Christmas services.
