Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Me and Hymns

I have found myself straining my singing voice at the carol service. Shall I go high or shall I go low? Is it just me or are many carols pitched in a difficult key for the ‘once a year’ singer?

Many of the hymns and carols presented in the hymn book are written in the Victorian period and one familiar carol is ‘In the bleak midwinter’ by Christina Rosetti. Her poem is set to music by Gustav Holst.

furthermore...

Here are the words:

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, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; Heaven 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 thronged the air; But His mother only, in her maiden bliss, Worshipped the beloved with a 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 give Him: give my heart