Aled Jones In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan Earth stood ha…
Bert Jansch In the bleak midwinter Long, long ago Earth stood hard as ir…
Charlie Landsborough In the bleak mid winter Frosty winds made moan Earth as…
Choir of St. Johns College In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan Earth stood ha…
Jane Siberry In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan Earth stood ha…
Libera In the bleak mid-winter In the bleak mid-winter Frosty win…
Sarah McLachlan In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood …
Sarah McLachlan Feat. Diana Krall In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan Earth stood ha…
Shawn Colvin In the bleak midwinter Stormy winds may blow Earth tood hard…
St. Paul's Cathedral Choir In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan Earth stood ha…
The Black Mountain Male Chorus In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood h…
The Choir And Orchestra Of Clare College In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan Earth stood ha…
The Girl Choristers of Merton College Oxford & Benjamin Nicholas In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan Earth stood…
The St. Thomas Choir Of Men And Boys In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan Earth stood ha…
Zurich Chamber Singers & Christian Erny In the bleak midwinter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood ha…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@edeledeledel5490

1y↑1

I know choirmasters and choirs like the Darke version because it has more opportunity to display expertise and technique, basically showing off.

Not exactly the purpose of the original poem; "What shall I give him, poor as I am" - a highly decorated and complicated rendition of a simple theme?

I hate it for those reasons - it destroys the spirit of the poem and the simple melodic power of the Holst melody. Not to mention a lot of it is like variations on Holst's theme.

It's like a dog standing on its hind legs.

From Wikipedia on Holst:

Above all, Short recognises Holst as a composer for the people, who believed it was a composer's duty to provide music for practical purposes—festivals, celebrations, ceremonies, Christmas carols or simple hymn tunes. Thus, says Short, "many people who may never have heard any of [Holst's] major works ... have nevertheless derived great pleasure from hearing or singing such small masterpieces as the carol 'In the Bleak Midwinter'"

That's why I prefer Holst's version - I like actually singing carols.

@yohan5809

1y↑4

In the bleak mid-winter
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 mid-winter
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 mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty —
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom Angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
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 I give Him,
Give my heart.

All comments from YouTube:

@joesoy9185

21w↑24

The soloist is Florian Störtz, originally from Trier, Germany. He won several prizes at the Royal Academy of Music and the International Handel Singing Competition in March 2023. I wish him all the best in his singing career.

@jimmymack4079

2y↑10

This is my dear friend Lynn's favourite song. She died this year - and I listen to you singing it in memory of her. You sing it so well

@colliewollie1471

3y↑49

I love how they give the melody space to breath. Stunning.

@craigeverhart4755

3y↑1

Thank you, Stephen!

@bbyng7316

18w↑3

Love how folk in the comments spot a singer they know? "Wait a sec, isn't that Allegra Staves?" So sweet. What makes this piece SO perfect is the modulation to f natural. It is so unexpected; devastating and yet hopeful all at once.

@minanes6549

1y↑8

I don't think I've heard this sung so perfectly before. Surely the definitive version.

@bbyng7316

18w

I agree

@user-cl5fn2zw5x

1y↑3

The descant at the end gets me, Every. Time.

@danielmoses6626

1y↑5

I'm transported back to my childhood when I hear this, back to a time when things seemed easier and more care-free, when there was hope for the future. Thank you so much for this beautiful recording. Joyeux Noël à toutes et à tous!

@Rosie-ew4kg

19w↑3

Just been to a carol concert with the usual tune sung. I knew it wasn't the version I remembered from when I was in my school choir. This was the tune we sang to. Much nicer. ❤

@edeledeledel5490

18w

I completely disagree; it succeeds in destroying any link with the emotion and pathos of the poem, and just turns it into a dog standing on its hind legs, performing extravagant tricks for the audience.

Choirmasters like it because it is very showy, unlike the simplicity and emotional impact of the Holst version, which is in tune with the sentiments of the poem.

@dawncollinson6741

14w

Perfect just perfect! ❤

@austin12ascot

1y↑2

AB-SO-LUTELY Beautiful. Perfect.

@russellsatterthwait3505

18w↑3

Beautiful traditional English carol.

@fjfb1001

22w↑2

Utterly exquisite phrasing. Sob

@DebbieKoch

13w

Congratulations! Gorgeous!!

@mumsyxc

1y↑18

As I said on another thread, Holst has the famous name, but Darke has the spirit. Well done.

@phoebeflanders

18w↑1

Both tunes are marvelous, why must you pick winners and losers?

@benphilips7235

16w

@@phoebeflanders Because Darke's is better!

@averylrushby4734

1y↑4

Beautifully sung by choir and particularly the soloist, also the other carol from kings. the soloist was gorgeous as he sang once in royal David’s city. Beautifully sung by all . Thankyou to all

@joanlitman

2y↑7

Extraordinary. Seasons greetings from New York.

@volhounovisa5221

38w↑1

The best best best 😮❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@LindaPgh

3y↑8

3:13-3:23 "which adore......" Exquisite.

@karenlang69

2y↑8

Beautiful harmonies and tones. Thank you. My favourite carol.

@goranklaren2566

3y↑45

This is my favorite carol. I always cry when a hear this and this was not an exemption.... Thank you for a beautiful performance! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

@brucewilliams8714

2y↑8

Your words - and tears - are mine also. Thankyou. Tomorrow, Christmas Eve 2021, I turn 86. I return to this carol every year.

@jd-bl3gf

@@brucewilliams8714 Merry Christmas!

@jd-bl3gf

2y↑3

Just discovered this tonight. What a truly sublime vocal music!

@brucewilliams8714

@@jd-bl3gf Thank you, jd.

@goranklaren2566

@@brucewilliams8714 I’m sorry I’m late, but a Merry Christmas!

@bt9124

2y↑7

Sublime, esp the solo and organ accomp.

@robbicurtice

2y↑9

This is such a beautiful melody - so perfect for Christina Rossetti's words. I have been trying to find this version for some time - thank you so much for posting it and for giving such a moving performance!

@timothyj1966

2y↑6

Beautiful! Cheers from Canada for a Happy Christmas 2021!🎄👑🇬🇧🇨🇦🎄🔔

@trevororme4646

3y↑33

For me (and I suspect many others too) this is the undisputed 'De Facto' version of this beautifully sung Carol with its brilliantly written and effective organ part. Thank you each and every one of you.

@viviancrawford6395

3y↑4

Vivian Crawford- Jamaica: Truly moving.We will remember Harold Darke ' s organ recital University Chapel Mona 1962.

@clairetdixon

1y↑6

I read in his bio that the Darke arrangement was Sir Stephen Cleobury's all-time favorite. RIP Sir Stephen Cleobury.

@chrisburn7178

1y↑2

Absolutely. Holst would be perfectly satisfactory any other day, but Darke's transcendant drawing out of the melody with held notes and the understated climax in verse 4 win any day (if it was a competition)!

@clairetdixon

1y↑3

@@chrisburn7178 no Holst for me. The only things I like by Holst are his arrangements of Personent Hodie and Masters In This Hall.

@mumsyxc

@@clairetdixon How about "The Planets"?

11 More Replies...

@albertwessels71

1y↑2

so beautiful.

@gillhargrove6807

2y↑7

This is beautiful

@Wendyj55

1y↑1

Utterly beautiful

@emmanuel.boateng3444

1y↑2

Just beautiful!

@menopausalmadness3008

2y↑3

Exquisite

@joesoy9185

3y↑21

Yet another excellent performance! The soloist sang very well, too, with good phrasing and control. Congratulations!!

@johnkankalil109

2y↑4

Agree, perfect phrasing not only from the soloist but the whole choir. A carol that makes me feel truly Christmassy :)

@bbyng7316

18w

You can feel the frost outside?

@potdog1000

2y↑3

love this

@PoeCompany

2y↑2

Thank you

@kittybitts567

3y↑8

Thank you! That was so lovely!

@maryqueenofScots2023

3y↑7

Quite lovely, Happy Christmas

@jlam5737

3y↑13

Congrats Florian on a very polished and moving performance!

@genevieveswenson9847

1y↑4

Team Darke.

@TrinityCollegeChoir

1y↑4

Holsters gonna Holst.

@mumsyxc

1y↑1

@@TrinityCollegeChoir They can Holst about The Planets any day.

@uncleyemen

1y↑3

I realized today that the soprano at 1:04 is Molly Noon from Voces8!

@valbirch9436

1y↑6

By far the better version of this Carol most suited to choirs and this is just heavenly. Perfect!

@edeledeledel5490

1y↑1

@mumsyxc

1y↑1

@@edeledeledel5490
I like the Darke tune just because it is lovelier and deeper. Holst is rightly famous for "The Planets" and other compositions, but a famous name doesn't guarantee superiority in everything.

@edeledeledel5490

@@mumsyxc Lovelier possibly, if lovely things need to be complicated. If by "deeper" you mean more meaningful and with more emotional impact, I have to disagree. It leaves me impressed but unmoved.

@clairetdixon

@@edeledeledel5490 Holst was a pain, IMO. His music was either too solemn,
(e. g. Midwinter) or too avante garde (e. g. The Planets). I'm not done with my rant...

@clairetdixon

@@edeledeledel5490... and another thing, I like "show-offy" melodies (as long as they are traditional, not modern)!!!! That's why Handel is my most favorite composer, because his melodies were powerful and exciting. And he's just one example. I'm still not done with my rant...

2 More Replies...

@kevelliott

1y↑14

The last verse - 'Give my heart'...that moment is so beautiful. And that is why Darke's setting wins over Holst's, lovely though it is.

@michaelbutcher3563

20w↑1

It was only through hearing this version of the carol on A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, that i got to know this tune. Previous to me listening to AFONLAC, i'd only heard the Gustav Holst version. And besides that version and this one, i've also heard a jazzed up version of the carol, but don't know who does that one.

@yohan5809

1y↑4

@averylrushby4734

1y↑1

The carol I was speaking of is the carols for choirs from kings Cambridge 2013 The boy soloist was superb as he sang once in royal David’s city. For some reason the comments are turned off .

@teamotis3792

30w↑1

I think I recognize the girl at 00:50, that's Katherine Gregory, originally from Truro Cathedral Choir, who received a scholarship to attend Cambidge, and sings with the choir there. She has an outstandingly good voice.

@bbyng7316

16w

😊

@moley3109

3y↑29

So much more moving than the Holst version! Thank you, Trinity, for posting this serenely beautiful and tranquil masterpiece. (Btw, my 11xGreat Grandfather was Adam Loftus, your first Provost)

@bellis7772

2y↑5

I SO agree! It is heavenly.

@clairetdixon

1y↑2

I agree! The Holst version is depressing.

@mumsyxc

1y↑1

I agree. Holst may have the famous name, but Darke's setting is the one to listen to.

@edeledeledel5490

There's no accounting for taste. The Holst version allows the meaning of the words to be at the forefront - this is just a nice sounding noise. Doesn't move me at all.

@clairetdixon

1y↑1

@@edeledeledel5490 codswallop! I don't care about the lyrics; I'm an atheist. I'm only interested in whether or not I like a melody. Down with Gustav Holst!

3 More Replies...

@tonywozere909

17w↑1

William Llewellyn's version is great also

@gabriel_kyne

2y↑39

kills the Holst version any day

@clairetdixon

1y↑7

I fervently agree with you. The Holst version is depressing.

@abujachoralensemble9912

34w↑4

without a shred of doubt!!!!!

@gezzly72

22w↑9

I like them both

@roryvps

20w↑5

The words are the most important part: both versions portray them effectively. Down to personal taste after that. In my case, I've always been moved by the Holst version, so never felt the need for a new one!