In the Bleak Midwinter

Transcription

1 In the Bleak Midwinter Ramsey / SATB (divisi) a caella In the Bleak Midwinter Andrea Ramsey SATB (divisi) Voices, a caella Duration: 4:23 RANGES: FREE MP3 rehearsal and accomaniments

2 2 Performance Notes When I was aroached by long-time friend Rebeca about a commission for her high school chamber choir that would involve setting this Rossetti text, the rosect made me very nervous. How could I look at this text and hear anything other than the famous Holst setting we all know and love? Though I m still uncertain a fresh setting is needed, I certainly enjoyed the oortunity to work with such a great text. I hoed to maintain a carol-like quality while giving myself ermission to enhance the drama in the story more than a traditional carol might allow. One examle of this can be seen in m. 35 through the key change as things are a bit unsettled before landing on a root-osition, major block chord at Christ. Another moment of building dramatic intensity occurs at m. 59, leading into heart in m. 64. While the overall color of the iece is one of simlistic beauty, choirs should not be afraid to intensify sound and exeriment with shifts in vocal color in these more dramatic moments. About the Comoser Andrea Ramsey holds a Ph.D. in music education from Michigan State University and an M.M. in choral conducting from the University of Kansas. A native Arkansan, Andrea has teaching and conducting exerience with children s, ublic school, and university choruses. She is regularly invited for guest conducting aearances with all-state and honor choruses. As a scholar and resenter she has shared with attendees at state and divisional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association as well as international symosiums. An ASCAP award-winning comoser, Dr. Ramsey s music sans a wide range of ensembles and ability levels.

3 CHRISTINA ROSSETTI Sorano Alto Tenor Bass Piano (for rehearsal only) Commissioned for the Clarksville High School Chamber Choir of Clarksville, Arkansas in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Madrigal Feast, Rebeca Pitts, conductor In the Bleak Midwinter for SATB (divisi) Voices with Piano Rubato (q = 72-80) Rubato (q = 72-80) 4 4 ANDREA RAMSEY In the bleak mid win ter, Fro sty wind made moan In the bleak mid win ter, Fro sty wind made moan, In the bleak mid win ter, Fro sty wind made moan, In the bleak mid win ter, Fro sty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as i ron. Wa ter like a stone, Earth stood hard as i ron. Wa ter like a stone Earth stood hard as i ron. Wa ter like a stone Earth stood hard as i ron. Wa ter like a stone Coyright 2015 by Carl Fischer, LLC. International Coyright Secured. All rights reserved, including erformance rights.

4 4 6 Snow had fal len, snow on snow, snow on snow, Snow had fal len, snow on snow, snow on snow, Snow on snow, snow on snow, snow on snow, 9 a temo In the bleak mid win ter, long a go, Our In the bleak mid win ter, long a go, Our In the bleak mid win ter, long a go. Our In the bleak mid win ter, long a go. a temo

5 13 5 God, Heav'n can not hold Him, nor earth sus tain; God, Heav'n can not hold Him, nor earth sus tain; God, Heav'n can not hold Him, nor earth sus stain; Heav'n can not hold Him, nor earth sus tain; 17 Heav'n and earth shall flee a way when He comes to Heav'n and earth shall flee a way when He comes to Heav'n and earth shall flee a way when He comes to Heav'n and earth shall flee a way when He comes to

6 6 20 f reign. In the bleak mid win ter a sta ble lace suf reign. In the bleak mid win ter a sta ble lace suf f reign. In the bleak mid win ter a sta ble lace suf reign. In the bleak mid win ter a sta ble lace suf f 24 mf ficed, The Lord God Al migh ty, Je sus ficed, The Lord, Je sus ficed, The Lord, ficed, The Lord,

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8 8 36 air, But His mo ther on ly, in her mai den bliss, air, But His mo ther on ly, in her mai den bliss, air, But His mo ther on ly, in her mai den bliss, air, But His mo ther on ly, in her mai den bliss, 41 Wor shied the be lo ved with a kiss, a Wor shied the be lo ved with a kiss, a Wor shied the be lo ved with a kiss. Wor shied the be lo ved with a kiss, a kiss.

9 46 Temo rimo (q = 72-80) 9 kiss. Ooh kiss. Ooh mf mf What Temo rimo (q = 72-80) oor can I give him, Ooh as I am? 50 mf If I were a she herd, I would bring a lamb; I would bring a lamb; I would bring a lamb; I would bring a lamb;

10 10 54 a temo subito f m If I were a Wise Man, I would do my art; Yet m If I were a Wise Man, I would do my art; Yet subito f If I were a Wise Man, I would do my art; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my art; a temo 58 what I can I give Him: what I can I m what I can I give Him: Yet m what I can I give Him, Yet what I can I give Him,

11 62 ff 11 give Him: give my heart, what I can I give my heart, what ff m I can I give Him, give my (my) heart, what m I give Him, give my heart, what I m 67 give Him, give my heart. give Him, give my heart. give Him, give my, my heart. give Him, give my, my heart.

12 TRADITION & INNOVATION Carl Fischer has a roud reutation for ublishing classic traditional choral music standards that have insired, educated and thrilled singers, choirs, congregations and audiences for years. The tradition continues in our choral music series as we resent new and exciting works designed to meet the understanding, abilities and tastes of worshiers and erformers today. The styles, texts, subjects and musical elements of each iece have been carefully weighed and the music, edited, arranged and written to meet a wide range of worshi styles and erformance situations. Writers for Carl Fischer are among the most outstanding and resected in this field of music. The standard of musical excellence we resent in each choral work is designed to meet the challenges faced by rofessional directors all over the world who wish to offer quality reertoire. We accet the challenge of roviding choral grous everywhere the music that fits their needs, thrills the soul and heightens the skills of every singer who erforms a Carl Fischer choral work. Building on our ast reutation, we continue to grow in offering variety and accessible music for church, school and rofessional choirs. ISBN UPC