In The Bleak Midwinter

Christina Rossetti’s poem “In the Bleak Midwinter” was published posthumously in 1904 and later set to music by both Gustav Holst and Harold Darke. Darke’s 1911 setting, composed while he was organist at St. Michael’s Cornhill in London, is known for its expressive harmonies and lyrical lines, offering a more intricate and emotional treatment than Holst’s hymn-like version. A respected composer and conductor, Darke served for many years as a professor at the Royal College of Music, shaping generations of English choral musicians. In a BBC Music Magazine poll of choral experts, Darke’s version was named the greatest Christmas carol of all time. It is arranged here for brass quintet, with shades of darkness (no pun intended) and light achieved through variations of texture and key.