My dear Mum always liked Gustav Holst's tune for this carol, and it is, indeed, a beautifully effective and simple melody.

My setting, which I know is not as good as Holst's, might, at least, offer another alternative version, especially in terms of metre.

The vocal writing is quite straightforward, with some simple harmony, mostly in 3rds, in the third verse, and some simple canonic imitation in the last. The piano accompaniment is equally not too demanding. I have set four v... (more)

My dear Mum always liked Gustav Holst's tune for this carol, and it is, indeed, a beautifully effective and simple melody.

My setting, which I know is not as good as Holst's, might, at least, offer another alternative version, especially in terms of metre.

The vocal writing is quite straightforward, with some simple harmony, mostly in 3rds, in the third verse, and some simple canonic imitation in the last. The piano accompaniment is equally not too demanding. I have set four verses, omitting Christina Rossetti's original third verse.

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews for this score

A brave try - and it just works
It requires some nerve to write another tune for a carol which for many is indelibly associated with the tune by Holst - although Harold Darke wrote an equally lovely version that is rarely sung. This new one is a very pretty melody indeed, and would be a worthy partner to the other too, if only for the one elusive quality of 'atmosphere' which, to me at any rate, rather lacking. Possibly it is the cheerful 6/8 and the up-tempo feel that is the reason, but I don't see the snow in quite the same way. Still, it deserves to be sung.

Andrew Lowe-Watson

A brave try - and it just works
It requires some nerve to write another tune for a carol which for many is indelibly associated with the tune by Holst - although Harold Darke wrote an equally lovely version that is rarely sung. This new one is a very pretty melody indeed, and would be a worthy partner to the other too, if only for the one elusive quality of 'atmosphere' which, to me at any rate, rather lacking. Possibly it is the cheerful 6/8 and the up-tempo feel that is the reason, but I don't see the snow in quite the same way. Still, it deserves to be sung.

Andrew Lowe-Watson

A brave try - and it just works
It requires some nerve to write another tune for a carol which for many is indelibly associated with the tune by Holst - although Harold Darke wrote an equally lovely version that is rarely sung. This new one is a very pretty melody indeed, and would be a worthy partner to the other too, if only for the one elusive quality of 'atmosphere' which, to me at any rate, rather lacking. Possibly it is the cheerful 6/8 and the up-tempo feel that is the reason, but I don't see the snow in quite the same way. Still, it deserves to be sung.

Andrew Lowe-Watson

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