Angels in the Bleak Midwinter

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Every year I struggle with finding new and creative ways to arrange music for holiday concerts. It is always fun to try and find a new way to musically link two tunes together in an interesting way. Well, this arrangement is the result. It combines the famous Gustav Holst chorale In the Bleak Midwinter with the popular Christmas carol Angels We Have Heard on High.The arrangement begins with a single solo violin playing the Holst tune (without accompaniment) to set the mood. This then expands as the full tune is revealed and leads to a full orchestra setting of the Christmas carol. Harmonies here are different from the normal harmonic progressions of the carol, but more closely related to the harmonies found in the Holst work. After some interplay between the tunes and sections of the orchestra, the “Gloria” section of the carol is presented with full scoring. The Holst tune returns now orchestrated with rich lush lower string sounds followed by a big build, some additional interplay of the tunes, and then finally a big climactic moment based on the last phrase of the Holst. The violin returns to bookend the arrangement and end in the same subtle manner in which the piece began.This work is certainly playable alone, but it has been designed to also be playable with a choral setting of the piece, and can also work together with the band version of this arrangement. It has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to write this piece. I hope you and your students enjoy it and find it useful for your program.-LARRY CLARKLakeland, FL 2012 As the title implies, this unique piece combines the beauty of Gustav Holst’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” with the popular “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Lush and stunningly gorgeous, Angels in the Bleak Midwinter manages to be simple and elegant at the same time. This work can be performed alone or with a choral setting and concert band setting. What a great opportunity to include the whole music program!

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