Also available: SATB version
In the Bleak Midwinter (arr.)
SSAA chorus, 2 soloists, piano
Text: Christina Rossetti (modified), John Andrew Storey (v. 2)
Tune: Gustav Holst
Duration: 5:45 min.
Voicing: SSAA chorus, 2 soloists, piano
Commissioned by: Cantamus, Iowa State Women's Chorus
Published by: Abbie Betinis Music Co., AB-047-10
Score Sample: PREVIEW THE SCORE (PDF)
REVIEWS (Click to view/hide)
"This is a lovely, atmospheric setting . . . Betinis crafts some beautiful moments. . . shifting from voice part to voice part. The two soloists' duet takes us into new territory while the choir hums the familiar carol and it comes to a serene conclusion. Medium difficulty."
- Philip Brunelle. Excerpted from "The American Organist: Choral Old and New" (Dec 2010).
"For the national reading session, I recommended In the Bleak Midwinter, Betinis, SATB, s.a. solos, piano: Building upon the Holst melody, a divisi accompaniment is created in harmonizing parts. The piano accompaniment is harp-like and the two soloists provide an innocence over the choir hum[ming] in the last verse. Great for teaching line and phrasing."
- Karen Fulmer, NW-ACDA R & S Chair. From "Creative Planning and Programming for High School Choirs."
"Abbie Betinis does a superb job of resetting a traditional Christmas hymn. She is able to transform what is a simple strophic work into something filled with emotion and beautiful text painting. The work uses a combination of imitative counterpoint, ostinato, and homophony. The work is not overly difficult for what it is able to accomplish in sounds and textures and will be a rewarding experience for any choir to perform."
- Benjamin Schoening, WCDA R & S Chair (2-Year Colleges). From Melisma Magazine (Spring 2012).
- Philip Brunelle. Excerpted from "The American Organist: Choral Old and New" (Dec 2010).
"For the national reading session, I recommended In the Bleak Midwinter, Betinis, SATB, s.a. solos, piano: Building upon the Holst melody, a divisi accompaniment is created in harmonizing parts. The piano accompaniment is harp-like and the two soloists provide an innocence over the choir hum[ming] in the last verse. Great for teaching line and phrasing."
- Karen Fulmer, NW-ACDA R & S Chair. From "Creative Planning and Programming for High School Choirs."
"Abbie Betinis does a superb job of resetting a traditional Christmas hymn. She is able to transform what is a simple strophic work into something filled with emotion and beautiful text painting. The work uses a combination of imitative counterpoint, ostinato, and homophony. The work is not overly difficult for what it is able to accomplish in sounds and textures and will be a rewarding experience for any choir to perform."
- Benjamin Schoening, WCDA R & S Chair (2-Year Colleges). From Melisma Magazine (Spring 2012).
LISTEN (Click to view/hide)Performed by Elektra Women's Choir; Morna Edmundson, conductor; Stephen Smith, pianist; Stephanie Schollen, soloist; Danica Kell and Stephanie Loo, duet.
COMPLETE TEXT (Click to view/hide)
In the Bleak Midwinter
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.
Christ a homeless stranger,
so the gospels say,
cradled in a manger
and a bed of hay;
in the bleak midwinter,
a stable place sufficed,
Mary and her baby, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels
May have thronged the air,
Shepherds, beasts and wise men,
May have gathered there,
But only his mother
In her tender bliss
Blessed this new redeemer
With a kiss.
What can I give you,
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 you:
Give my heart.
I give my heart...
Verse 1 by Christina Rossetti, verse 2 by John Andrew Storey, verses 3 & 4 by Rossetti, modified A. Betinis. These texts are in the public domain, and may be reprinted from this website for use in concert programs and for promotional use as related to this musical work.
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.
Christ a homeless stranger,
so the gospels say,
cradled in a manger
and a bed of hay;
in the bleak midwinter,
a stable place sufficed,
Mary and her baby, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels
May have thronged the air,
Shepherds, beasts and wise men,
May have gathered there,
But only his mother
In her tender bliss
Blessed this new redeemer
With a kiss.
What can I give you,
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 you:
Give my heart.
I give my heart...
Verse 1 by Christina Rossetti, verse 2 by John Andrew Storey, verses 3 & 4 by Rossetti, modified A. Betinis. These texts are in the public domain, and may be reprinted from this website for use in concert programs and for promotional use as related to this musical work.
OTHER PERFORMANCE POSSIBILITIES, INSPIRED BY CREATIVE CONDUCTORS...
duet voice type: Please feel free to 'cast' various voice types in the duet (m.65-83), sung in their octave. I've heard so many combinations now (Tenor/Alto; Tenor/Baritone; Soprano/Baritone; Boy Soprano/Alto) and each combination inspires such intimacy and character.
children's choir: I've heard some beautiful performances that bring in children's choir for the opening verse (they could actually sing through m42 - on their own or doubling sopranos). They can quietly exit the stage after that first verse, or they can sing again at the humming chorus (m.64-79), and perhaps also double SA "I give my heart" at the end.
language: Last year I received a beautiful request from a conductor abroad wanting to experiment with translating the lower voice in the duet (m.65-83) into another language spoken in her community -- showing the possibilities of intercultural generosity in the words "I give my heart." Yes yes yes!
duet voice type: Please feel free to 'cast' various voice types in the duet (m.65-83), sung in their octave. I've heard so many combinations now (Tenor/Alto; Tenor/Baritone; Soprano/Baritone; Boy Soprano/Alto) and each combination inspires such intimacy and character.
children's choir: I've heard some beautiful performances that bring in children's choir for the opening verse (they could actually sing through m42 - on their own or doubling sopranos). They can quietly exit the stage after that first verse, or they can sing again at the humming chorus (m.64-79), and perhaps also double SA "I give my heart" at the end.
language: Last year I received a beautiful request from a conductor abroad wanting to experiment with translating the lower voice in the duet (m.65-83) into another language spoken in her community -- showing the possibilities of intercultural generosity in the words "I give my heart." Yes yes yes!
LIST OF PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES (Click to view/hide)Cantamus Women's Choir (Iowa State) - Ames, IA
Elektra Women's Choir (Morna Edmundson, conductor) - Vancouver, BC, CANADA
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