Midwinter

Midwinter (In The Bleak Midwinter) by Gustav Holst

Arranged for flute ensemble by Richard Arnest

Instrumentation: 4 c flutes, 2 alto flutes (optional bass flute part to use in place of Alto Flute 2)

Score and parts

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) set  the well-known poem by Christina Rossetti as a carol in 1906.

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long, long ago
Angels and Arc Angels
May have traveled there
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air
But only his Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved
With a kiss
What can I give him?
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give to him my heart
Give to him my heart