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421:. Although melodically similar, it is more advanced; each verse is treated slightly differently, with solos for soprano and tenor (or a group of sopranos and tenors) and a delicate organ accompaniment. This version is favoured by cathedral choirs and is the one usually heard performed on the radio broadcasts of
512:
Rossetti's "a breastful of milk" to "a heart full of mirth", although later editions reversed this change. Darke also repeats the last line of the final verse. Darke would complain, however, that the popularity of this tune prevented people from performing his other compositions, and rarely performed
260:
has questioned the poem's theology: "Is it right to say that heaven cannot hold God, nor the earth sustain, and what about heaven and earth fleeing away when he comes to reign?", which he considers not justified by scripture. He concedes that the image of a heaven unable to contain God, could be read
264:
Several writers have conversely pointed to scriptural precedent for the lines that
Bradley finds questionable. Professor of Historical Theology, John Mulder, with his coauthor and fellow Presbyterian minister, F. Morgan Roberts, commented that Rossetti's lines "Heaven and earth shall flee away, When
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The third verse dwells on Christ's birth and describes the simple surroundings, in a humble stable and watched by beasts of burden. Rossetti achieves another contrast in the fourth verse, this time between the
1198:"'In the bleak midwinter' (Rossetti, set by Harold Edwin Darke, Gustav Holst, Bruce Montgomery, Leonard J[ordan] Lehrman, Michael John Trotta, Mick Swithinbank, Stephen Wilkinson, Benjamin Britten)"
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But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be
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The image of God as the one that heaven cannot hold could, in fact, be read as a bold and original attempt to express the mysterious paradox at the heart of the
Christian doctrine of the Incarnation.
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The fact is, of course, that this is not the sort of text that bears or warrants detailed exegesis and analysis. It is a mystical offering by a
Victorian poet justly famous for her devotional verse.
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earth perhaps, but is heaven going to flee at the second coming?' A worthy question perhaps but one ignorant of the biblical vision of
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253:'s ability to render Jesus physical affection. The final verse shifts the description to a more introspective thought process.
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as a "bold and original attempt to express the mysterious paradox at the heart of the
Christian doctrine of the Incarnation".
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The text of this
Christmas poem has been set to music many times. Two of the most famous settings were composed by
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composed in 1909 and intended for a trained choir; it was named the best
Christmas carol in a 2008 poll of leading
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includes an elaborate five-part setting of the first verse for high voices (combined with the medieval
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It is sung by the character
Abigail Pettigrew, played by Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins in the
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Most of the main characters sing the first verse in the
Christmas episode of the BBC TV series
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287:"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you
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3:10–11 as New
Testament support for the phrase "heaven and earth shall flee away":
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1224:"What are the lyrics to 'In The Bleak Midwinter' – and which version is better?"
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He comes to reign" accord with the apocalyptic account of the second coming in
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Be Still, My Soul: The
Inspiring Stories behind 175 of the Most-Loved Hymns
331:
1247:: 'In the Bleak Midwinter' secret meaning revealed – why do they say it?"
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The theology of 'In the Bleak Midwinter' has been questioned. Ian Bradley
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In the Bleak Midwinter: Advent and Christmas with Christina Rossetti
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In verse one, Rossetti describes the physical circumstances of the
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The character Patrick Lewis recalls the first verse in the novel
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It has been set to music several times. Two settings, those by
1022:"The Resource Hub: Hymns – 'In the Bleak Midwinter' (StF 204)"
93:
and simple enough to be sung by a congregation. Darke's is an
87:. Holst's is a hymn tune called Cranham, published in 1906 in
1328:
Series 3: The Beautiful Message of This Adorably Daft Comedy"
524:. It features contemporary compositional techniques such as
438:
388:"In the Bleak Midwinter" arranged for congregational singing
358:
114:
931:. Vol. 56, no. 4. pp. 47–49. Archived from
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setting was written in 1909 while he was a student at the
974:
Mulder, John M.; Roberts, F. Morgan (13 October 2015).
1450:
In the Bleak Midwinter for SATB (Harold Darke setting)
1108:
Galaxy Music Corporation: 'In the Bleak Midwinter' by
847:"The story behind the carol: 'In the bleak midwinter'"
554:
Other settings include those by Robert C. L. Watson,
291:..." when he dedicates the temple. It also points to
1169:"Catalogue of Works: Unaccompanied Vocal and Choral"
566:, who wrote a setting for solo voice and piano, and
70:
Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress and Other Poems
508:Darke omits verse four of Rossetti's original, and
1297:"The curious comforts of 'In the Bleak Midwinter'"
878:
600:It makes an appearance in the series premiere of
1123:"7 pop songs that deploy microtones ingeniously"
429:. Darke served as conductor of the choir during
920:"Hymn Interpretation: 'In the Bleak Midwinter'"
297:
112:
733:. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. p. 145.
1088:. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. p. 143.
42:Christina Rossetti, portrait by her brother,
8:
520:rearrangement of the song by music producer
837:
835:
464:"In the Bleak Midwinter" arranged for choir
1269:Series Premiere Recap: 'Wolferton Splash'"
982:. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 66.
782:
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516:In 2016, the Darke setting was used in a
500:St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis
249:angels attendant at Christ's birth with
913:
911:
887:. New York: Penguin. pp. 154–157.
773:(3). New York: Scribner & Co.: 278.
761:Rossetti, Christina G. (January 1872).
719:
676:
1412:'A Christmas Carol' (TV Episode 2010)"
1085:This Is Our Song: Women's Hymn-Writing
562:, Michael John Trotta, Robert Walker,
471:
395:
272:Guidance on the hymn, provided by the
68:, and first collected in book form in
1157:from the original on 21 December 2021
280:asks a similarly-phrased question in
7:
814:"'Bleak Midwinter' named best carol"
606:, "Wolferton Splash", in which King
177: May have gathered there,
58:. It was published under the title "
233:. In verse two, Rossetti contrasts
160: And a mangerful of hay;
147: A stable-place sufficed
143: When He comes to reign:
1357:: 'The Ghost of Christmas' on BBC"
949:(2 August 2019). "Christmas Day".
513:it outside of Christmas services.
156: Worship night and day,
14:
1322:Mellor, Louisa (12 August 2021).
1241:Mitchell, Molli (15 March 2020).
1147:"Michael John Trotta's setting",
202: I would do my part, —
198: I would bring a lamb;
122: Frosty wind made moan
1386:. London: Picador. p. 161.
1082:Wooton, Janet (7 January 2013).
494:Darke's popular 1909 setting of
472:Problems playing this file? See
454:
396:Problems playing this file? See
378:
141:Heaven and earth shall flee away
83:, are popular and often sung as
54:" is a poem by the English poet
1500:Hymns in The New English Hymnal
1436:In the Bleak Midwinter for SATB
918:Beall, Mary Kay (Autumn 2005).
276:for their churches, notes that
185: In her maiden bliss
137:Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
126: Water like a stone;
62:" in the January 1872 issue of
16:Christmas-themed poem and carol
978:28 Carols to Sing at Christmas
880:"38 'In the Bleak Mid-winter'"
614:) joins a band of carolers at
220:Christina Rossetti, (1872)
139: Nor earth sustain,
128:Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
1:
1062:Hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com
788:"Shnugget: Carols at Cranham"
450:Harold Darke's setting (1909)
181: Thronged the air;
164: Fall down before,
154:Enough for Him, whom cherubim
1505:Works subject to expurgation
1480:Poetry by Christina Rossetti
1458:Choral Public Domain Library
649:episode "A Christmas Carol".
591:It is quoted throughout the
204:Yet what I can I give Him, —
618:in singing the final verse.
323:in the early 20th century.
256:Hymnologist and theologian
206: Give my heart.
194: Poor as I am? —
162:Enough for Him, whom Angels
1521:
1382:Ondaatje, Michael (1988).
1058:"'In The Bleak Midwinter'"
885:The Penguin Book of Carols
498:performed by the choir of
335:"Cranham", by Gustav Holst
18:
168: Which adore.
151: Jesus Christ.
130: Snow on snow,
124:Earth stood hard as iron,
727:Petersen, Randy (2014).
660:List of Christmas carols
370:Gustav Holst's setting (
347:and was written for the
345:Cranham, Gloucestershire
189: With a kiss.
166:The ox and ass and camel
1044:Oxford University Press
1026:The Methodist Church UK
423:Nine Lessons and Carols
149:The Lord God Almighty —
145:In the bleak mid-winter
132:In the bleak mid-winter
120:In the bleak mid-winter
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582:As first published in
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496:In the Bleak Midwinter
443:
419:Royal College of Music
363:
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187:Worshipped the Beloved
52:In the Bleak Midwinter
47:
44:Dante Gabriel Rossetti
29:In the Bleak Midwinter
22:In the Bleak Midwinter
1384:In the Skin of a Lion
1274:The New York Observer
1179:on 25 September 2023.
998:... has written ' ...
671:Biblical verses cited
633:In the Skin of a Lion
581:
493:
442:
362:
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179:Cherubim and seraphim
175:Angels and Archangels
134: Long ago.
41:
26:. For the novel, see
1495:Songs based on poems
1184:24 July 2011 at the
953:. Canterbury Press.
845:(14 December 2007).
843:Christiansen, Rupert
542:Corpus Christi Carol
427:King's College Choir
200:If I were a Wise Man
196:If I were a Shepherd
192:What can I give Him,
101:and choral experts.
1046:. 1916. p. 44.
852:The Daily Telegraph
763:"A Christmas Carol"
274:Methodist Church UK
183:But only His Mother
158:A breastful of milk
72:(Macmillan, 1875).
1363:. 23 December 2020
1303:. 21 December 2016
1112:arr. Ronald Arnatt
1040:The English Hymnal
820:. 27 November 2008
767:Scribner's Monthly
588:
584:Scribner's Monthly
574:In popular culture
503:
444:
364:
337:
90:The English Hymnal
65:Scribner's Monthly
56:Christina Rossetti
48:
19:For the film, see
1393:978-0-330-30183-1
1277:. 4 November 2016
1173:Robert Walker.net
989:978-1-4982-0682-2
960:978-1-78622-162-9
894:978-0-14-027526-1
616:Sandringham House
491:
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339:Holst's setting,
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110:A Christmas Carol
60:A Christmas Carol
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545:) in his work
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