SONG HUNT! Alternative arrangement for bleak midwinter

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

I have asked the WHOLE world and I should have probably started with Mumsnet.

It's a beautifully haunting arrangement of "in the bleak midwinter" - definitely not the Darke or Holst versions. I've also looked at ALL the other suggestions on Wikipedia and it's none of them.

I've (oh so slowly) put the tune of verse one onto clicky music software. Has anyone else heard of it?! I cannot find it ANYwhere but I know it exists because I sang it in my school choir (circa 2002)...

If anyone could help me it would make my Christmas!

I don’t think I can help as the only version I know is the Folky Bert Jancsh version...

But I do really like it!!

*Jansch

I've worked my way through 8 different settings this evening and none of them are right!! Xx

This is the only non-holst/darke one I know... m.soundcloud.com/hutchingsmusic/inthebleakmidwinter-madrigirls

What sort of choir was it? SATB or SSA? Was it accompanied by piano? (or other instrument?) Was it basically chordal like a hymn, or a more arranged song-like version?

There are quite a few alternative versions, but none that I've seen look quite like yours.. Did you sing the tune always, or did you have harmony/descant? Is the part you remember the main tune from the beginning?

It was SSA, and was piano accompanied, I remember part of the piano bit (just a few trills). Pretty much in 3 parts throughout I think, but the bit that i have notated is definitely the tune!

(We were an SSA choir but occasionally split just SA so I guess the song could have been either.)

The bit I've notated is definitely the main melody. In the second verse the lower part(s) came in, I remember some of that and might have a crack at it tomorrow!

hmm, I've looked at quite a few, but none of them seem quite like yours. Some nice ones out there, though. The one by Joubert was perhaps closest in style, but not really the right tune.

I found it!!

It's got to be this one.

www.cmm.org.uk/downloads/shop/products/bleakmidwinterlc.pdf

I looked through lots of sheet music samples on google images

OH MY WORD YOU ARE AMAZING!!!

Thank you so much! I have searched for years!!!

Thank you PickleFish!!

Made my Christmas!!

You're welcome! I enjoyed the challenge. I hope you can get a copy and sing it again :)

oh I just saw you'd posted the video; it's a very pretty arrangement. The whole presentation looks soooo '80s though, reminds me of my school choir days

Missing the point but the Chilcott one is also v lovely

The video (and dancing!!) Is so cringeworthy! Fortunately my choir just sang it. I had no idea it was part of an 80s musical! I teach primary now, this is probably a bit ambitious for them!!

Sorry to add, I have been searching for years for another version, sung by a school choir in Hertfordshire, probably c1980. It was probably a modern arrangement, a bit faster, and the middle (I think) verse was stunningly, beautifully, hauntingly, discordant. It was so good, they recorded it on a vinyl single. A girl called Sally loaned it to me, but eventually demanded its return!

open.spotify.com/track/1lQPvi7TFjougQLvOBFVpJ?si=aFEX-jCsT9-jzphP-BtDmw