Saints

Saints
Saints We Love

Monday, December 5, 2011

"I can give my heart . . ." Mark Blackburn from Canada

"I can give my heart"

Searching just now for James Taylor’s version of that song (with Natalie Cole) I happened upon a lovely ‘slide show’ set to Taylor's version of IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER -- based on a poem by the English writer Christina Rossetti, who died more than a century ago. Taylor sings a slightly modified version of Rossetti's lyric, and his modern arrangement by (one of my favorite pianist/orchestrators) Dave Grusin, features an electric guitar solo by . . . someone good! 

This is my favorite version of this carol. If you're young and unfamiliar with it . . . I envy you hearing it for the first time, here and now! [I admit I needed to Google & Wiki for this reminder] 

Christina Georgina Rossetti (5 December 1830 – 29 December 1894) was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems. She is best known for her long poem Goblin Market, her love poem Remember, and for the words of the Christmas carol In the Bleak Midwinter. Rossetti's Christmas poem became widely known after her death when set as a Christmas carol first by Gustav Holst, and then by Harold Darke.[17] Her poem "Love Came Down at Christmas" (1885) has also been widely arranged as a carol.[18] Rossetti is honoured with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on April 27.

1 comment:

Terry Fenwick said...

Here is the song for now - please see it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qmtO6cebcU&feature=share