In the Bleak Midwinter by Gustav Holst
Arranged for String Quartet by Hugh Levey

In the Bleak Mid-Winter is a popular Christmas Carol which has been set to music by both Gustav Holst and Harold Darke. This string quartet arrangement is based on the Holst version and combines the composer's beautifully simple harmony with the arranger's counter-melodies and intricate part writing. Lovely writing for all instruments. An ideal work for Christmas concert programming.

This is a through-composed instrumental arrangement that explores the melody and harmonies of the Holst hymn in 3 differently arranged verses. After a short introduction the first verse uses Holst’s original 4-part harmonisation in its beautiful simplicity, with violin 1 taking turns to play the top line. In verse 2, the viola presents the tune in a lower register while the 'cello plays a Baroque style ‘walking bass’. The upper parts weave countermelodies above them, introducing new material for a Pachelbel-like interlude of an ascending sequence - bringing the music to a climax before subsiding into verse 3. Here a slightly ornamented version of the tune returns to the violins with the new material continuing in the bass line. After another smaller climax we return to the original Holst as the work ends quietly and thoughtfully.