tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post173860122700206384..comments2023-09-21T08:53:42.554+01:00Comments on blethers: Bleak indeed - Darke too.Christine McIntoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-43075797142970216952008-12-01T14:51:00.000+00:002008-12-01T14:51:00.000+00:00Thanks for dropping by, Andrew. Re Rossetti - don'...Thanks for dropping by, Andrew. Re Rossetti - don't you think the simplicity of the language is important? No flowery metaphor - it's almost childlike and therefore profound and universal. And the wonderful moment in the Darke when the passing note is omitted in "What shall I give him..." is what gets me, every time. Quite hard when you're singing it, as beautifully as you can ...Christine McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-45036661402521122832008-12-01T11:33:00.000+00:002008-12-01T11:33:00.000+00:00Thanks, Christine. I agree with your view of BBC S...Thanks, Christine. I agree with your view of BBC Scotland and Darke!<BR/>I am sitting at home trying to finish a piece about Christina Rossetti for 'Inspires' magazine (Scottish Episcopal). I am trying to say succinctly why her words banish all the sentimentality of the season. Why does she bring real tears to our eyes? Is there something about Darke as well as his music? He kept our spirits up during the blitz in 1940 with his impromptu Saturday afternoon 'Messiah's' in London (I was told as a child). His communion setting has echoes of the tune too. I wonder what Rossetti would have thought of her poem being sung? Two odd and yet different people unwittingly working together.<BR/>Thanks for getting me moving again.<BR/>AndrewAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-2959651716565581132008-11-29T08:41:00.000+00:002008-11-29T08:41:00.000+00:00I've just been listening to a new CD of Advent mus...I've just been listening to a new CD of Advent music which has the most remarkable arrangement of In the Bleak Midwinter, one of several carols I simply can't do without. The CD is Midwinter, by Christian Forshaw. I'm doing a longish blog post reviewing it which I'll publish on Advent Sunday. You can find details of the CD on Amazon or direct from The Sanctuary Ensemble.<BR/>Shalom, Jimjim Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942153453907435828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-51659036996362370982008-11-27T14:23:00.000+00:002008-11-27T14:23:00.000+00:00If I have to listen to that carol, then I'd agree ...If I have to listen to that carol, then I'd agree that Darke's setting is preferable.An Honest Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737317978687717195noreply@blogger.com