IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

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The poem by Christina Rossetti is a Christmas classic and Albert’s fetching melody is a great match. Listen to the wonderful recording. The trumpet part is also available for flute, clarinet, violin or cello.

In the bleak midwinter, 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 midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heav’n cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain
Heav’n and earth shall flee away,
when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim praised Him in the air;
But his mother Mary, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped her beloved with a gentle kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.