Who Was Christina Rossetti and What Carols did She Write?

Above: The Girlhood of Mary Virgin’ (1848–9Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Christina Rossetti was used a a model for Mary.

 

Who Was Christina Rossetti and What Carols did She Write?

Writer of the Text of Two Classic Carols and some new ones

by Ray Rojas

Updated: Jan. 27, 2023.

Editor's Notes: I had been wanting to update this post for quite a sometime because I kept coming across more of Rossetti's Christmas poems that had been set to music. I continue to edit it as I come across more musical settings.

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Every year, new Christmas carols are solicited from composers, and in turn, these composers scour the literature, mostly poems, new and old, for good Christmas-related texts.

Christina Rossetti was one of those who has written good Christmas texts. She is the writer of the texts used for “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Love Came Down at Christmas.”

The carols are not sung too much outside of choral circles in the United States, but in the United Kingdom, they are so popular that in 2008, “In the Bleak the Midwinter” was rated the best Christmas carol in a poll of leading choirmasters and choral experts.[1] However, the popularity of "In the Bleak Midwinter" is growing, recently covered by some pop artists on their Christmas albums.

Rossetti was born in London, and she had two siblings, who were also poets. Her brother, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, was a famed artist. While growing up, her parents opened their home to visiting artists and revolutionaries.

As a young woman, Rossetti and her sister became involved in the Anglo-Catholic movement that developed in the Church of England.

An interesting trivia fact is that Christina Rossetti was a model for her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s most famous paintings. These include modeling for the Virgin Mary in his The Girlhood of Mary Virgin. She also modeled for a painting on the Annunciation.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "Annunciation"

Around 1842, that Rossetti began dating her poems, some that included Biblical narratives. She published "A Chrismas Carol "(“In the Bleak Midwinter”) in 1872. The poem was first collected in her book Goblin Market, The Prince’s Progress and Other Poems (1875). Rossetti would use the title "A Christmas Carol" for six other poems.

Gustav Holst was the first to set the poem to music. His composition first appeared in The English Hymnal in 1906.

"In the bleak midwinter" by Gustav Holst

Harold Darke wrote an anthem setting in either 1909 or 1911[2]. We know that Darke was at the Royal College of Music at the time. It is worth noting that Darke was the temporary director of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge during World War II while Boris Ord was in the service. Darke also played with text, censoring the “breastful of milk” phrase. Holst version in The English Hymnal did not censor this. Darke would say later that the carol somewhat pigeonholed him, drawing attention away from his other compositions.

"In the bleak midwinter" by Harold Darke

Of the other composers who have used the text, Benjamin Britten used the text combined with aspects of the medieval “Corpus Christi Carol,” in his work A Boy Was Born.

 

A boy was born, Op. 3 - Variation 5: 

In The Bleak Mid-Winter, Benjamin Britten

Other composers who have taken on the text are Robert C. L. Watson, Bob Chilcott, Michael John Trotta, Robert Walker, Eric Thiman among others (some listed below).

"Midwinter" by Bob Chilcott

"In the Bleak Midwinter" by Michael John Trotta

"In the Bleak Midwinter" by Robert Walker

"In the Bleak Midwinter" by Eric Thiman

"In the Bleak Midwinter" by Becky McGlade

"Snow had fallen; Christ was born " by Stephen Paulus

Christmas Hath a Darkness: No. 3, In the Bleak Mid-Winter, 

Matthew Whittall

An interesting note is that the editors of the New Oxford Book of Carols[3] state, “The free rhythm does not easily lend itself to a single-verse setting such as Holst’s, but the problem is effortlessly solved in Harold Darke’s through-composed setting, an object-lesson in multum in parvo.”[4]

"Christmastide" ("Love Came Down at Christmas")

Rossetti’s poem "Christmastide" from 1885, has also been widely used as a carol mostly under the title "Love Came Down at Christmas.”

In 1885, the poem was published in Time Files: A Reading Diary. In 1893, it was included in a collection called Verses, but under the title “Christmastide.”

R. O. Morris was the first to put a tune to the poem and it was first seen in the English Presbyterian Church Praise (1907) and then later in Songs of Praise (1925). 

According to the editors of the New Oxford Book of Carols, “Market research by the 1925 editors (Songs of Praise) had revealed ‘a strongly felt need for short hymns’, and this was one of the many that were introduced.”[5] Morris used the tune “Hermitage,” also known as ‘Gartan’[6] in Irish circles.

"Love Came Down at Christmas" by R.O. Morris

Some of the composers who have set the text include R.O. Morris, Harold Darke, Leo Sowerby, Richard Lloyd, Howard Helvey, John Rutter, and Jennifer Higdon who set the text for solo soprano, harp, and four-part chorus. Below are some compositions:

John Rutter

Leo Sowerby

Richard Lloyd

Howard Helvey

Jennifer Higdon

Matthew Whittall (Christmas Hath a Darkness: No. 4, Love Came Down at Christmas)

Tim Algate

Arlen Clarke

Arr. Edwin Fissinger

David Rasbach (Hal Leonard)

Brian Büda (Hal Leonard)

To tune "Garton"

Text by: Christina G Rossetti 1830-1894 Tune: Garton a traditional Irish melody Source: Methodist 1939 Hymnal #94. This may be R.O. Morris version, but the hymn page does not credit him, but "Garton."

Eleanor Daley

Arr. Audrey Snyder

Joel Raney

arr. Edwin Fissinger

David C. Dickau (Pavane Publishing)

David Ashely White

Malcolm Archer

Sonny Salsbury

Christopher Norton

Jessica French

Arr. Stephen Cleobury

Stephen Nash

Matt Oltman

Michael L. Austin

Alexander L'Estrange

Geoffrey Williams (b. 1976)

Matt Maher/Jon Guerra/arr. Ken Litton

Philip Stopford

Ivor Bosanko

Timothy Shaw

Edwin Fissinger

Carson P. Cooman

Bernard Sexton

arr. Stephen Holcomb

Hugh Benham

David Von Kampen

arr. Mary K. Geston

Christopher Maxim

The 2021 BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition used "Love Came Down at Christmas" for their contest. The six finalists were: Helena Davis, Tamiko Dooley, David Harris, Stephanie Spragg, Michelle Turney, and Megan Underhill.

Other Rossetti Christmas Texts (*)

"Holy Innocents"

Rossetti has two poems that she titled "holy Innocents." The most used by composers is the one that begins with "Sleep little baby sleep." Judith Weir used this poem in her 2016 composition. Here is a recording by Vox Feminina:

"Commissioned through the generosity of the St Albans Ex-Choristers Association to mark the 20th Anniversary of St Albans Abbey Girls Choir. First performance given by the choir at Evensong on 25th June 2016, conducted by Tom Winpenny. Christina Rossetti (1830-94)"

Original text from poem:

Holy Innocents

Sleep, little Baby, sleep; 

The holy Angels love thee, 

And guard thy bed, 

and keep A blessed watch above thee. 

No spirit can come near 

Nor evil beast to harm thee: 

Sleep, Sweet, devoid of fear 

Where nothing need alarm thee. 

The Love which doth not sleep, 

The eternal Arms surround thee: 

The Shepherd of the sheep 

In perfect love hath found thee. 

Sleep through the holy night, 

Christ-kept from snare and sorrow, 

Until thou wake to light 

And love and warmth to-morrow.

Stefano Puri also put the poem to music in his carol:

"Holy Innocents" by Stefano Puri

Three Night Songs: I. Holy Innocents by Heather Percy

"Holy Innocents" by Antony Le Fleming

Holy Innocents - Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep - James Prideaux

Sleep, little baby, sleep by Jake Runestad

Four Love Songs: 4. Sleep, little baby, sleep 

by Margaretha Christina de Jong

Sleep Little Baby Sleep (2011 Hal Leanard) 

by Robert S. Cohen

"Leaf from Leaf Christ Knows"

There is also a piece by Wier on Rossetti's "Leaf from Leaf Christ Knows." It was first performed by the Choir of Well Cathedra in 2016:

Leaf from Leaf Christ Knows, Judith Wier

Original text from poem:

Leaf from leaf Christ knows; / Himself the Lily and the Rose

Leaf from leaf Christ knows;
Himself the Lily and the Rose:

Sheep from sheep Christ tells;
Himself the Shepherd, no one else:

Star and star He names,
Himself outblazing all their flames:

Dove by dove, He calls
To set each on the golden walls:

Drop by drop, He counts
The flood of ocean as it mounts:

Grain by grain, His hand
Numbers the innumerable sand.

Lord, I lift to Thee
In peace what is and what shall be:

Lord, in peace I trust
To Thee all spirits and all dust.

Joel Martinson and William Hawley have also composed music to this poem.

"Christmas Eve"

Rossetti's "Christmas Eve" ("Christmas hath a darkness") has been put to music many times. Here is The Sixteen's recording of Kim Porter's musical setting:

Christmas hath a darkness
Brighter than the blazing noon,
Christmas hath a chillness
Warmer than the heat of June,
Christmas hath a beauty
Lovelier than the world can show:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low.

Earth, strike up your music,
Birds that sing and bells that ring;
Heaven hath answering music
For all Angels soon to sing:
Earth, put on your whitest
Bridal robe of spotless snow:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low.
- Christina Rosetti

American composer Arnfield Cudal is among other composers who have written music to the poem:

"Christmas Hath a Darkness" by Arnfield Cudal

For score, see Hark Publications

"Christmas Hath a Darkness" (2016) by Arlen Clarke

"Christmas Eve," Tess Lowe

"Christmas Eve," Jenny Spence

"Christmas Eve" from Hodie by John Priddy 

(also with text by William Blake from "Little Lamb")

Christmas Bringeth Jesus, Brad Nix

"Christmas Eve," George Searcy

Christmas Eve, John Martinez

"They have brought gold and spices to my King"

Alison Willis set Rossetti's Epiphany poem "Gold and Spices" to music. It was originally written for the Reading Phoenix Choir (dir. Christpher Hann) and premiered at Reading Minster in December 2019:

"Gold and Spices," Alison Willis

I have yet to see another composer set this text, but I am still searching.

"They have brought us gold and spices to my King:

They have brought gold and spices to my King,
Incense and precious stuffs and ivory;
O holy Mother mine, what can I bring
That so my Lord may deign to look on me?
They sing a sweeter song than I can sing,
All crowned and glorified exceedingly:
I, bound on earth, weep for my trespassing,–
They sing the song of love in heaven, set free.
Then answered me my Mother, and her voice
Spake to my heart, yea answered in my heart:
'Sing, saith He to the heavens, to earth, Rejoice:
Thou also lift thy heart to Him above:
He seeks not thine, but thee such as thou art,
For lo His banner over thee is Love.

-- From The Poetical Works of Christina Georgina Rossetti, with a Memoir and Notes by William Michael Rossetti (1904), page 148.

"Before the paling of the stars"

Amont those who have put Rossetti's poems to music is Derek Healy. He composed "Two Christina Rosetti Carols: 1. Before the paling of the stars," originally titled "A Christmas Carol" by Rosetti.

Before the paling of the stars


Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born:
Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
In the world his hands had made
Born a stranger.

Priest and king lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem;
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem;
Saint and angel, ox and ass,
Kept a watch together
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.

Jesus on his mother's breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless lamb of God was he,
Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary maid,
With Joseph bent and hoary,
With saint and angel, ox and ass,
To hail the King of Glory.

Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born:
Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
In the world his hands had made
Born a stranger.

Priest and king lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem;
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem;
Saint and angel, ox and ass,
Kept a watch together
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.

Jesus on his mother's breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless lamb of God was he,
Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary maid,
With Joseph bent and hoary,
With saint and angel, ox and ass,
To hail the King of Glory.

Other settings of this poem include:

Before the paling of the stars by John Boda

Before the paling of the stars by Tom Shelton

Before the paling of the stars by Cecilia McDowall

Before the paling of the stars by Joseph M. Martin

Before the paling of the stars by Leo Nestor

Before the paling of the stars by Matthew Brown

Before the paling of the stars by Jerry Wesley Harris

Before the paling of the stars by Paula Foley Tillen

Before the paling of the stars by John Challenger

"The Shepherds had an angel"

Rossetti's poem "A Christmas Carol For My Godchildren"" ("The Shepherds had an angel") has also been put to musical notes.

The Shepherds had an Angel,
The Wise Men had a star,
But what have I, a little child,
To guide me home from far,
Where glad stars sing together
And singing angels are? –

Lord Jesus is my Guardian,
So I can nothing lack:
The lambs lie in His bosom
Along life's dangerous track:
The wilful lambs that go astray
He bleeding fetches back.

Lord Jesus is my guiding star,
My beacon-light in heaven:
He leads me step by step along
The path of life uneven:
He, true light, leads me to that land
Whose day shall be as seven.

Those Shepherds through the lonely night
Sat watching by their sheep,
Until they saw the heavenly host
Who neither tire nor sleep,
All singing 'Glory glory'
In festival they keep.

Christ watches me, His little lamb,
Cares for me day and night,
That I may be His own in heaven:
So angels clad in white
Shall sing their 'Glory glory'
For my sake in the height.

The Wise Men left their country
To journey morn by morn,
With gold and frankincense and myrrh,
Because the Lord was born:
God sent a star to guide them
And sent a dream to warn.

My life is like their journey,
Their star is like God's book;
I must be like those good Wise Men
With heavenward heart and look:
But shall I give no gifts to God? –
What precious gifts they took!

Lord, I will give my love to Thee,
Than gold much costlier,
Sweeter to Thee than frankincense,
More prized than choicest myrrh:
Lord, make me dearer day by day,
Day by day holier;

Nearer and dearer day by day:
Till I my voice unite,
And I sing my 'Glory glory'
With angels clad in white;
All 'Glory glory' given to Thee
Through all the heavenly height.

6 October 1856

One of them is by Maurice Beasley (1888- d. 1945):

"The Shepherds had an angel" by Maurice Beasley

Also, there is a version by "The Shepherds had an angel":

"The shepherds had an angel" by Neil Harmon

"The shepherds had an angel," Barlow Bradford

Tune: a traditional English carol Source: 

Methodist 1939 Hymnal #436

"A Christmas Carol," Eric Richards

Advent Poems

Rossetti wrote several poems that she titled "Advent" and are referred to collectively as her "Advent Poems." Their first lines are "Come, Thou dost say to Angels," "This Advent moon shines cold and clear," and "Earth grown old, yet still so green." Most composers have title them after the first lines. Strangely, "Earth grown old" is neither very festive nor adventy, nevertheless, it has gained composer writing settings for it.

Advent (1851)

'Come,' Thou dost say to Angels,

To blessed Spirits, 'Come':

"Come,' to the lambs of Thine own flock,

Thy little ones, 'Come home.'

'Come,' from the many-mansioned house

The gracious word is sent;

'Com," form the ivory palaces

Unto the Penitent

O Lord, restore us deal and blind,

Unclose our lips though dumb:

Then say to us," I will come with speed,'

And we will answer, "Come.'

This advent poem has been set by Kathryn Rose under the title "Advent."

"Come, thou Dost Say to Angels," Christoffer Woodward (b. 1991)

"Advent," Kathryn Rose

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Advent (1858)

This Advent moon shines cold and clear,

These Advent night are long;

Our lamps have burned year after year,

And still their flame is strong.

"Watchman, what of the night?" we cry,

Heart-sick with hope deferred:

"No speaking signs are in the sky,"

Is still the watchman's word.

The Porter watches at the gate,

The servants watch within;

The watch is long betimes and late,

the prize is slow to win.

"Watchman, what of the night?" but still

His answer sounds the same:

"No daybreak tops the utmost hill,

Nor pale our lamps of flame."

One to another hear them speak,

The patient virgins wise:

"Surely He is not far to seek,"---

"All night we watch and rise."

"The days are evil looking back,

The coming days are dim;

Yet count we not His promise slack,

But watch and wait for him."

One to another hear them speak,

The patient virgins wise:

“Surely He is not far to seek,”–

“All night we watch and rise.”

“The days are evil looking back,

The coming days are dim;

Yet count we not His promise slack,

But watch and wait for Him.”

One with another, soul with soul,

They kindle fire from fire:

“Friends watch us who have touched the goal.”

“They urge us, come up higher.”

“With them shall rest our waysore feet,

With them is built our home,

With Christ.” “They sweet, but He most sweet,

Sweeter than honeycomb.”

There no more parting, no more pain,

The distant ones brought near,

The lost so long are found again,

Long lost but longer dear:

Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard,

Nor heart conceived that rest,

With them our good things long deferred,

With Jesus Christ our Best.

We weep because the night is long,

We laugh, for day shall rise,

We sing a slow contented song

And knock at Paradise.

Weeping we hold Him fast Who wept

For us,–we hold Him fast;

And will not let Him go except

He bless us first or last.

Weeping we hold Him fast to-night;

We will not let Him go

Till daybreak smite our wearied sight,

And summer smite the snow:

Then figs shall bud, and dove with dove

Shall coo the livelong day;

Then He shall say, “Arise, My love,

My fair one, come away.”

Rossetti's poem "This Advent Moon Shines Cold and Clear" (see original text below) has also been set to music by Ellen Gilson Voth.

"This Advent Moon Shines Cold and Clear," 

Ellen Gilsen Voth

The poem has also been set to music by Stephen Decesare, Frank T. Lowdan (under title "The Porter Watches at the Gate"), Charles G. Griffen (under title "Advent Moon"), Jen Klimek ("Advent Moon" Video), Douglas Brooks-Davies ("Advent Anthem"), and Matthew Whittall ("This Advent Moon").

Jen Klimek, "Advent Moon"

"Advent Anthem" Douglas Brooks-Davies

Christmas Hath a Darkness: No. 1 "This Advent Moon" 

by Matthew Whittall

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Advent

Earth grown old, yet still so green,
Deep beneath her crust of cold
Nurses fire unfelt, unseen:
Earth grown old.

We who live are quickly told:
Millions more lie hid between
Inner swathings of her fold.

When will fire break up her screen?
When will life burst thro' her mould?
Earth, earth, earth, thy cold is keen,
Earth grown old.

Christmas Hath a Darkness: No. 2, Earth Grown Old, Matthew Whittall

Earth grown old - Martyn Noble

This poem has also been set to music by Stephen Decesare ("Earth Grown Old"). 

"Christmas Carol 3" "Lo! newborn Jesus"

Composers have hardly touched poems titled "Christmas Carol 1" (Whoso hears a chiming for Christmas at the nighest"), "Christmas Carol 2" (A holy heavenly chime"), and "Christmas Carol 3" ("Lo! newborn Jesus"). See The Poetical Works of Christina Georgina Rossetti, with a Memoir and Notes by William Michael Rossetti (London: Macmillan, 1904), except as noted.

Christmas Carol 3

Lo! newborn Jesus
Soft and weak and small,
Wrapped in baby's bands
By His Mother's hands,
Lord God of all.

Lord God of Mary,
Whom His Lips caress
While He rocks to rest
On her milky breast
In helplessness.

Lord God of shepherds
Flocking through the cold,
Flocking through the dark
To the only Ark,
The only Fold.

Lord God of all things
Be they near or far,
Be they high or low;
Lord of storm and snow,
Angel and star.

Lord God of all men, –
My Lord and my God!
Thou who lovest me,
Keep me close to Thee
By staff and rod.

Lo! newborn Jesus
Loving great and small,
Love's free Sacrifice,
Opening Arms and Eyes
To one and all.

Circa 1887

"Newborn Jesus," Christopher Inman

Lo! New Born Jesus, Barry Ferguson (b 1942)

I am always glad to see modern Christmas texts used for Christmas carols by composers. In the early 1900s, Rossetti’s texts were “modern.”

This shows the need not only for composers to continue new carol writing, but for poets to also continue writing Christmas poems as those poems may be later put music, hopefully of the good kind.

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* A good reference, which I have noted below is the Christina Rossetti in Music page which can give way more information than this blog post on Rossetti in music. To learn more about the page and its developers, go to:

About · Christina Rossetti In Music (uottawa.ca). Maura Ives, who is one of the developers, wrote the article "How an American Magazine helped launch on of Britain's favorite carols" in which she purports that "A Christmas Carol" ("In the Bleak Midwinter") did not gain much traction in the United Kingdom, but first came to prominence in the United States.

References:

"Christina Rossetti in Music," Christina Rossetti In Music (uottawa.ca), Accessed Jan. 8, 2023.

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[1] "Bleak Midwinter named best carol". BBC News. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2014.

[2] The editors of the New Oxford Book of Carols date it at 1911.

[3] Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrot, ed. The New Oxford Book of Carols. Oxford University Press, 1992. Entry 111.

[4] much in a little, Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multum%20in%20parvo. Accessed November 24, 2020.

[5] Ibid. See entry 110.

[6] Lough Gartan, Co. Donegal. See entry in New Oxford Book of Carols.

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