The horrific events of Friday really threw me off the Christmas music blogging. Goofy songs, even peppy pop songs, didn’t seem right.
Then I thought of one of my favorite hymns, “In the Bleak Midwinter.” It always seems to be like it should be really old, like the “Coventry Carol,” which goes back to the 16th century. But “In the Bleak Midwinter” is not that old.
It’s lyrics are taken from a poem written by Christina Georgina Rossetti in 1872. It was first set to music by Gustav Holst in 1906.
The whole setting is obviously not historically accurate. It was in the 4th century that the birth of Jesus was set on December 25th, which is not “midwinter.” But Rossetti paints a vivid portrait.
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.
It’s a very serious and somber song, but it’s important that performances of it don’t plod along.
Nashville’s Paper Route is one of those bands that aren’t Christian rock bands, but the members are openly Christian and they sometimes write about God. They provide a nice arrangement, which manages to be contemporary and respectful at the same time.
Welsh folk singer Sam Airey then provides a more delicate version, into which he has inserted a few verses of a song called “If You Get Lonely This Christmas.” You can also see a video of him performing this song, which I have embedded below.
Paper Route – In the Bleak Midwinter — DOWNLOAD
Sam Airey – In The Bleak Midwinter/Lonely This Christmas — BUY
UPDATE: I neglected to discuss the setting of this song, which is your typical Nativity deal, with the baby and the manger and whatnot. On a recent edition of the excellent WhippleWerff Christmas podcast, co-host Amy Whipple said that the Advent season is about “waiting and darkness.” Quite true.
In the 4th century, we start seeing Christians converting pagan festivals into Christian holidays (and turning pagan temples in churches). It is around this time that the birth of Christ was placed on December 25. That aside, it’s emotionally resonant as well to take place on that date. As winter approaches, it gets cold and dark. The birth of Christ shines out like a spark, giving hope. Then the Advent season is followed a few months later by Easter, as Spring arrives and brings new life.
Anthologies (26) Christmas 2011 | Sam Airey from Anthologies on Vimeo.