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Abbie Betinis
Abbie Betinis Music Company
In the Bleak Midwinter (arr.) (SATB)
An atmospheric, haunting arrangement of the traditional Christmas hymn.
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In the Bleak Midwinter (arr.)
SATB chorus, 2 soloists, piano or harp
This atmospheric setting of the traditional Christmas carol swirls with the falling snow. Over a sparkling accompaniment, Abbie Betinis arranges Holst’s hymn with both clarity and texture, offering opportunities for singers to develop skill in phrasing and expression. The final verse features two soloists over the choir humming, which creates an intimate, haunting beauty reflective of the text’s humility and reverence.
NOTE: All SATB orders for performance include the optional harp part (replaces the piano) as a separate download.
Reviews:
“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).
Composer’s Notes
PERFORMANCE NOTES
Here are some 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 comfortable range. I’ve heard so many combinations now (Tenor/Alto; Tenor/Baritone; Soprano/Baritone; Boy Soprano/Alto) and each has been inspiring and evocative.
Children’s choir: I’ve heard beautiful performances that feature children’s choir for the opening verse (they could actually sing through m.42 – on their own or doubling sopranos). They can either quietly exit the stage after that first verse, or sing again at the humming chorus (m.64-79), and perhaps also double SA “I give my heart” at the end.
Language: I’ve heard stunning performances where the lower voice in the duet (m.65-83) has been translated into another language spoken locally — showing the possibilities of intercultural generosity in the words “I give my heart.” What a terrific idea.
-Abbie Betinis
Text
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…
-Christina Rossetti (v1), Rev. John Andrew Storey (v2), C. Rossetti adapted A. Betinis (v3, v4)
$1.80 per licensed PDF
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