❄️“In the Bleak Midwinter”: A simple devotional poem transformed into a Choral Masterpiece!
- larees24
- Dec 24, 2025
- 2 min read
🎄 Welcome, to ‘Christmas around the Piano’…a nostalgic musical journey!🎄
Day 23 - December 23, 2025:
“In the Bleak Midwinter” is a Victorian poem-turned-choral-masterpiece, that had begun as a simple, quiet, devotional, poem by Christina Rossetti, one of the most respected English poets of the Victorian era. She wrote it in response to a request from Scribner’s Monthly for a Christmas poem, and it was published in January 1872 under the title “A Christmas Carol”. It was later included in her collection Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress and Other Poems in 1875.
Rossetti (1830–1894) came from a family steeped in the arts. Her deep faith and fragile health shaped her writing—she often turned to poetry for solace. She was known for her devotional writing, and this poem reflects her contemplative spirituality—simple, intimate, emphasizing personal offering, rather than grand theology.
The poem wasn’t originally intended as a song. Its transformation into a carol came decades later.
The poem has been set to music by several composers, with two most notable competing settings by Gustav Holst and Harold Darke, and fans are fiercely loyal to one or the other.
Gustav Holst composed the tune “Cranham” specifically for Rossetti’s text, which was published in The English Hymnal in 1906. It was known for its simplicity, and as such, was perfect for congregational singing.
In 1909, Harold Darke created a more complex and elaborate choral arrangement, intended for choirs, which gained popularity as a Christmas anthem. This setting is frequently performed by cathedral choirs. In 2008, it was voted “Best Christmas Carol of All Time” by leading choirmasters and choral experts.
The lyrics describe the cold and desolate conditions of winter, juxtaposed with the warmth of the Nativity scene. The final stanza poses a reflective question about what one can give to Christ, concluding with the heartfelt answer of giving one's heart.
It is known for its vivid imagery and themes of humility and devotion, and resonates with listeners for its emotional depth and lyrical beauty.
Quick Facts!
❄️Darke’s version is so beloved that King’s College Cambridge often features it in their iconic Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
❄️The poem’s imagery—“snow on snow”—is not historically accurate for Bethlehem, but reflects Victorian England’s snowy Christmas ideal.
❄️Rossetti’s final verse emphasizes personal devotion over material gifts, making it one of the most emotionally resonant carols in the repertoire.
I do hope you have enjoyed reading about this carol, as much as I have enjoyed presenting this to you.
Thank you for joining me on this festive journey! Wishing you and your loved ones, a season filled with light, laughter, love, and of course, MUSIC! 🌟🎄
If you have enjoyed this Post and Video, do Like, Share, and Subscribe.
Christmas cheer and good tidings to you!
Larissa
Comments