In the bleak midwinter, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

In the bleak midwinter, by Gustav Holst.

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Thank you, my friend SGT Steve McFarland for posting the music video of In the Bleak Midwinter music composed by Gustav Holst
performed by Quire Cleveland, conducted by Ross W. Duffin, performing at Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland OH, December 3-4, 2010

"The carol is based on a poem entitled ‘A Christmas Carol’ by English poet Christina Rossetti. The poem was first published in January 1872.
It wasn’t until 1906 that the poem was set to music. Rossetti’s words were set to a melody composed by Gustav Holst, and it was published under the title ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ in The English Hymnal."

Image: English poet Christina Rossetti, drawn by her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

What is the meaning of ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’?
The perennial carol is a stark contrast to most other Christmas songs, being simple and sombre in tone. It focuses on the birth of Jesus Christ, and features many images we associate with the nativity; the manger, a stable, angels, livestock and the Wise Men.
The meaning of the words lie in their humble simplicity – the stable stood in a bleak midwinter's night is 'enough' for the baby Jesus. This carol doesn't shout from the rooftops about Christmas cheer; instead, it focuses on the simplest yet truest gift of all, love."

"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a Christmas carol based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti.
In the bleak mid-winter
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 mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-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;
Enough for Him, whom Angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
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 I can I give Him,
Give my heart"

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC (Join to see) Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" PriceSGT Jim Arnold Maj Robert Thornton SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft SSgt Boyd Herrst TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSG William Jones PO3 Craig Phillips PVT Mark Zehner Maj Kim Patterson

Thank you, Steve.