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In the Bleak Midwinter by Noel Project [Email]
Genre: Holiday

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 3739
Comments: 32
Votes: 18
Plays: 1837
Last Played: Nov 22, 2008 - 09:53:19 AM
Downloads: 281
Fans: 12
Uploaded: Nov 03, 2005 - 05:36:47 AM
Last Updated: Nov 30, 2005 - 11:08:32 AM
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Keywords:
Christmas (153), winter (52), hope (91), love (979), bleak (3), midwinter (3), hymn (13), carol (21)
Description:
This poem, by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), was published posthumously in a collection, though the poem itself was dated 1872.
The song "In the Bleak Midwinter" gained popularity when it was paired in "The English Hymnal" with Gustav Holst's composition "Cranham," written for the verse specifically.

In this arrangement, only the first and fourth verses are sung, but verses 2 and 3 have been included as well for reading during the interlude.

Arrangement, piano, vocals: Mystified
Orchestral interlude: Tom Atwood

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Lyrics:
In the Bleak Midwinter
by Christina Georgina 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, long ago.

God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor the earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed;
The Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air.
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

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 can I give Him: give my heart.


Hardware:
Macintosh computers
MAudio keystation 61es
MAudio Mobile Pre USB
Behringer B-1 Condenser Mic

Software:
GarageBand 2
Jam Pack 4: Symphony
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Beautiful &mdash 11/03/05 - 06:17:55 AM
Wonderful performances and arrangement. Excellent song selection.

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Beautiful &mdash 11/03/05 - 07:01:33 AM
Thank you, Mungo.
We're glad you have taken the time to leave a comment here, and that you have
enjoyed this piece.


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Pure &mdash 11/03/05 - 06:49:42 AM
Pure with delight!

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Pure &mdash 11/03/05 - 06:49:44 AM
Pure with delight!

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Pure &mdash 11/03/05 - 06:49:45 AM
Pure with delight!

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Pure &mdash 11/03/05 - 07:11:39 AM
Thanks for stopping by and listening, Scotty.
In this song, a different vocal approach was taken, keeping the main voice light
and somewhat breathy...pure and uncluttered. So, it's nice you heard that in this
arrangement.
Thanks again for your comments.


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Mysti, Atwood, Rossetti &mdash 11/03/05 - 06:59:59 AM
Wow, I've always liked Rossetti's style but never knew she wrote this.
Makes sense though, I love this song :D

Mysti, your style is unmistakeable ...

Instant download and on to Christmas playlist.

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Mysti, Atwood, Rossetti &mdash 11/03/05 - 07:35:22 AM
Thank you, cjhoose, for your comments!
The Noel Project was surprised to find out that the musical setting to this was
composed by Gustav Holst.
...And there will be another song arranged by the Noel Project set to Christina
Rossetti's verse posted soon, so keep an eye out for that.
Thanks again!

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Mysti, Atwood, Rossetti &mdash 11/03/05 - 08:02:55 AM
Not everyone in the Project was surprised to learn this was a Holst piece.
Some low level staffers - a maintenance worker, I think -- knew it was Holst.
Someone who brings tea to Mysti in the sunroom after she does her
vocaleses.

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Sunroom? &mdash 11/03/05 - 01:00:57 PM
....sunroom? What sunroom!? Where?

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One of my favourites... &mdash 11/03/05 - 07:08:58 AM
This is a beautiful version! But Please, please, please sing the rest? *pleads*

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One of my favourites... &mdash 11/03/05 - 02:50:13 PM
Thank you for the comments, elfdaughter.
Yes...in the interest of keeping the piece to a certain time, verses were cut out. But who knows...maybe it can be revisited and extended to include those in the future?

Thanks, again.

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Ultimate Mystified &mdash 11/03/05 - 09:01:44 AM
These winterish pieces suit you, Cat. Your arrangement of this bleak
carol is excellent, especially the space you left for me in the middle!
Seriously, though, this is a beautiful piece, with lovely "mystified'
vocals floating like snowflakes swirling in the place where snowflakes
swirl, that windy area, cold and cluttered with flakes, each one different
from the other. Amazing, isn't it? Where am I? Last one out lock the
Project door. Keep an eye on mando and Rebsie.

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Ultimate Mystified &mdash 11/04/05 - 10:05:10 PM
Thanks for your musings on snowflakes, Tom.
I'm glad to see someone else can look at things from every angle and still seem
sane about it...?
But, seriously....When I offerred to do the arrangement of this song, I'd no idea it
would end up so...New Age-y. But I guess that's where this little snowflake
always ends up :P
I'm glad you liked the arrangement, and once again, I'm honored to work on
these songs with you.
(And the way you filled in the space in the middle section, there, is perfect, by
the way!)

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Give Him your song &mdash 11/03/05 - 11:19:28 AM
This hymn-like setting is richly warm and sweet. Wonderful job all
around. M's lead vocals may be a tad too loud and up front (and,
perhaps, over-compressed) for the sweetness of the tune, I'd like it more
transparent, part of the landscape. Reminds me of the wonderful CDs of
Celtic Women. My favorite Bleak Midwinter setting is Benjamin Britten's
Bleak Mid-Winter section from his A Boy Is Born cycle, ever hear it? I think
he was 18 or 21 or something when he wrote it, astounding. Great
addition to your Noel Project works.

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Give Him your song &mdash 11/04/05 - 07:15:45 AM
Thank you for listening and leaving a comment here, Tobin.
While there is no compression set on the main vocals, what you may be hearing
is that there is less reverb in them than the overall track? Thanks, too, for your
observations on the mix--it's always nice to get that feedback.

I've not heard that particular Britten piece, though I did participate in Britten's
Ceremony of Carols in a community choir for a couple of years some time ago
now. Fun and challenging!

On behalf of the Noel Project, thanks again for listening to the songs and leaving
your comments!

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Ooh this lovely &mdash 11/03/05 - 05:09:28 PM
I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview of this one, and thought
then, as I do know, that it is a very beautiful interpretation.. I am going
to have to get all these Noel Project tracks downloaded and onto a CD
in time for Christmas morning!
Steve

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Ooh this lovely &mdash 11/04/05 - 01:49:10 PM
Thanks, stevel
That was the point of creating this music and posting it here to MJ's. Besides
the CDs we would make to give to family/friends, we wanted to allow the MJ
community to compile their own CDs from what we post under the Noel
Project.
Glad you are enjoying the songs; makes it very worthwhile!


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More beauty... &mdash 11/03/05 - 08:13:13 PM
You two... Just lovely. Myst, I love your voice and the way you treat the
piece. Gentle, sweet and sincere... Tom, your harmonic instincts always
seem to resonate very beautifully. Excellent piece.


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More beauty... &mdash 11/04/05 - 01:55:33 PM
Thank you very much, Mr. I.Spike.
It's nice to know that you so enjoy the music enough to take the time to leave
a comment here...and follow us around...and leave more comments! ;)

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Pure night &mdash 11/04/05 - 07:18:29 AM
A lot of beauty was presented by you in this winter.
Quiet, holy night.
Music delivered to the world.
These are beautiful projects.


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Pure night &mdash 11/04/05 - 02:05:28 PM
Thank you very much, Tadashi.
Your poetry is beautiful
And your words are accepted
With a grateful heart.


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Hope &mdash 11/06/05 - 06:14:25 AM
Another one I got to hear in advance & I loved it then as I love it
now. It's one of my favourite Christmas pieces and you do a great
job with it here. And keeping with the Cheltenham theme of the
weekend, Gustav Holst was born and lived there for many years.
And people just think that MacJams is slapped together randomly!
This is now on one of my Christmas iTunes playlists and fanned
too. Thank you Noel Project, whoever you are!

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Hope &mdash 11/06/05 - 11:19:58 AM
Whoever-We-Are thank you most sincerely, Epi, for leaving your comments here.
We're also very glad to provide more music for your iTunes playlist--and
hopefully there will be a few more to add to that before the holiday season really
gets into full swing!

Thanks, again!

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Delicate and beautiful as a snowflake &mdash 11/07/05 - 07:28:37 PM
Nicely done you two.

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in the blaek midwinter... &mdash 11/10/05 - 07:00:15 AM
this song are we singing at the choir. its so lovely!!!!
you can see the winter really if you listen at this...

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in the blaek midwinter... &mdash 11/10/05 - 07:00:17 AM
this song are we singing at the choir. its so lovely!!!!
you can see the winter really if you listen at this...

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A sensitive performance &mdash 11/25/05 - 03:08:50 PM
I really like the piano part -- is that the stock GB piano? Or maybe the
JP4 piano? Whatever it is, you make it sound good.

The singing is sweet and beautiful. The arrangement nicely features
the vocal.

I like all the orchestral instrument toward the middle. The clarinet is
especially effective.

Powerful lyrics. Some people nowadays may prefer to say "Season's
Greetings" or "Happy Holidays," but this beautiful hymn reminds us
that Christmas is truly about the coming of Christ into the world.

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A sensitive performance &mdash 12/15/05 - 01:12:54 AM
Thank you, John, for such kind words.
The piano is GarageBand with a JamPack 4 setting of the "Steinway." I find it has
the nicest tone for piano in the GB instruments.

Thanks goes to Tom for adding that instrumental and clarinet in the middle.
It was a very fulfilling collaboration to do. :)

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Gorgeous &mdash 12/12/05 - 12:19:26 PM
I have to second every good thing already said here. Wow, what a voice and what beautiful instrumentals. Absolutely lovely.

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It's Christmas... &mdash 12/25/05 - 07:44:22 AM
This morning, Mystified and the other hired hands at the Noel Project
are still fast asleep, visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads,
while I? What am I doing? Already planning for next year's season.
Work, work, work. Well, if I don't it, who will?

Merry Christmas!

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Listening on the MJ player &mdash 06/26/07 - 09:08:00 AM
this came up and i always loved the song... it is such a great rendition... just had to stop by and say thanx for goving me christmas in June... 182 shopping days left

peace

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