In the Bleak Midwinter: A Classical Guitar Lesson

In the Bleak Midwinter: A Classical Guitar Lesson

As the Christmas season approaches, many members of CGC Academy have asked to learn In the Bleak Midwinter. Written as a poem by Christina Rossetti and later set to music by composers such as Gustav Holst, this setting is especially beautiful and works well on the classical guitar. This lesson focuses on what to look for when learning the piece and how to approach it musically.

Scan the Music

When starting any new piece, it’s important to first scan the music. Identify the key signature and time signature. Here, there are no sharps or flats, the first note is C, and the final chord also resolves to C, making C major a safe assumption. The piece is in common time (4/4), meaning four quarter notes per measure. Taking note of these basics gives clarity before you begin.

A quick scan also reveals elements that deserve attention: an A-flat that doesn’t belong to C major, harmonics at the end, and passages played in fifth position. While the piece fits well around a grade two level, these moments may require extra practice or adjusted fingerings. The music also has a clear form: an introduction, a verse with two sections, and a return of the introduction at the end, mirroring how the piece might be performed with choir and organ.

Voicing

Understanding the structure leads naturally into separating voices. This arrangement simplifies the original choral texture into melody and accompaniment. Stem direction is a reliable way to identify voices: melody notes generally have stems up, accompaniment stems down. In places where whole notes appear without stems, rests below indicate that the accompaniment is silent and the note belongs to the melody.

Voice separation is one of the most important aspects of this piece. The melody must be clear without being harsh, and the accompaniment should be extremely soft—almost a whisper. “Loud” is always relative: the melody is louder than the accompaniment, not necessarily loud overall. This balance is controlled primarily through right-hand technique, brushing lightly for accompaniment and digging in slightly more for melody notes.

This becomes especially challenging in chordal passages, such as measures 11 and 19, where the melody must sing out from within stacked notes. Open strings, in particular, can jump out if not carefully controlled. Singing the melody—especially with the words—can help clarify phrasing, legato, and note connections.

Legato

Vocal music demands smooth, connected lines, and achieving that on guitar requires careful left-hand finger placement and minimizing unnecessary lifting.

Note relationships

Beyond legato, the relationship between notes matters. Non-chord tones, such as Ds resolving to Cs, carry tension that should be slightly emphasized before resolving softly. These moments appear at the beginning and throughout the piece. The goal is not sharp accents, but a sense of weight resolving into lightness. Notes that don’t belong—like the A-flat—can also be brought out subtly to highlight their color and uniqueness.

Left-hand Technique

Left-hand movement presents its own challenges. In measure 8, a folded first finger requires elbow adjustment rather than wrist collapse. Chord transitions benefit from identifying guide fingers—fingers that can stay in place between chords—to simplify motion. However, in melodic chord passages, some guide fingers should be lifted to keep the melody clear rather than overlapping.

Measure 13 introduces campanella technique, blending fretted notes with open strings for a bell-like effect. While optional, it adds beauty if you’re comfortable playing in higher positions. Finally, the piece concludes with a harmonic on the 19th fret of the first string. If artificial harmonics are unfamiliar, it’s acceptable to let the note ring instead.

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Approaching In the Bleak Midwinter with attention to form, voice separation, note relationships, and thoughtful technique allows the music to sing naturally on the guitar. Taking time with these details will make the piece both expressive and rewarding to play.