In the bleak midwinter (Rossetti, set by H. Darke, G. Holst, B. Montgomery) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long, 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.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give him
Poor as I am
If I were a sheperd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart.

First published in Scribner's Monthly, January 1872

Authorship

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Harold Edwin Darke (1888-1977)

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

(Robert) Bruce Montgomery (1921-1978)

Christ's Birthday

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!
- Emily

I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.