The Story Behind The Song pt. 9: In The Bleak Midwinter
TRACK NINE // IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
The ninth* installment of TSBTS, wherein we give a little glimpse behind either the song or the recording or both for our new album Come Let Us Adore Him.
I think it’s fair– and perhaps more importantly, accurate– to say that “In The Bleak Midwinter” and “Stars of Glory” are the two songs we’ve gotten the most positive feedback about**. Is it because they are new-ish to people (as opposed to the cultural unavoidability and lifelong repeat listens to a song like, say, “Silent Night”)? Does the word “bleak” just resonate a little too much once the weather turns cold? Do people mistake “Stars of Glory” for a remake of Jon Bon Jovi’s “Blaze of Glory”? Is it the snowflake beauty of the 3-part harmony (this time executed by Debra, Sarah Sample, and Stephanie Mabey)? Is it the rich intersection of Mark Smith’s cello and Ryan Tilby’s bouzouki? Is it Darin’s bell ringing? Debra’s distinctive guitar playing? The masterful Hammond organ playing?
There’s no science to it, of course. Music is art. And art doesn’t have to (or shouldn’t have to) explain itself to focus groups and marketing majors. I will say, because I can and because this blog has practically turned into the soapbox for my rants and ravings, that the song really gets me in the last verse. It turns to talking about gift-giving and how, ultimately, our hearts are our greatest gifts. Which I couldn’t agree with more***.
LEAD VOCAL: Debra Fotheringham
HARMONY VOCALS: Sarah Sample, Stephanie Mabey
CELLO: Mark Smith
BOUZOUKI: Ryan Tilby
ACOUSTIC GUITAR: Debra Fotheringham
BELLS: Brian Hardy, Darin LeSueur
HAMMOND B3 ORGAN: Paul Jacobsen
Interestingly, this is not the first time a Lower Light has recorded this song. Mindy Gledhill recorded a different (melodically too) version a few years ago, which is a decent segue to the fact that this poem has been put to music a few times. The most famous versions were composed by Gustav Holst**** and Harold Edwin Darke*****, though I don’t know which one Mindy did or which one we did and it is the week of Christmas and I am too lazy to look it up. Knock yourself out, though, and feel free to leave the correct answer in the comments. My gut tells me that Mindy sings the Darke version.
* “Ninnne times,” echoes Principal Ed Rooney.
** No, I will not tell you which song gets the most negative feedback. But I will give you a hint: get a life.
*** With the occasional and notable exception of old Gibson J-45s, depending on the year.
**** VIA WIKIPEDIA: Holst’s setting, “Cranham”, is a hymn tune setting suitable for congregational singing. The hymn is titled after Cranham, Gloucestershire and was written for the English Hymnal of 1906.
***** ALSO VIA WIKIPEDIA: The Darke setting, written in 1909 while he was a student at the Royal College of Music, is more advanced and each verse is treated slightly differently, with solos for soprano and tenor (or a group of sopranos and tenors) and a delicate organ accompaniment. This version is favoured by cathedral choirs, and is the usually heard performed on the radio broadcasts of Nine Lessons and Carols by theKing’s College Choir. Darke served as conductor of the choir during World War II.
2 Comments
Ours is the Holst version
Thanks for these posts! It helps add to the enjoyment since I purchased a digital copy and didn’t get liner notes.