David Barnert Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 I think the point was that however appealing Darke's arrangement may be, Holst invented the tune. I take that back. When I posted it I had never heard the Darke version and knew nothing about it except what I had read here, which suggested that it was an arrangement of Holst's tune. I have now heard it and read the Mudcat thread. Whether or not one can call it a completely different tune, and to what extent the similarities owe to the fact that they are settings of the same text are questions that will not be answered here. But the Darke version is certainly something other than simply an arrangement of Holst's tune. It certainly seems that people tend to prefer the version they knew first. I come from a background of classical music, not Christmas Carols. I prefer the Holst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 ...the Darke version is certainly something other than simply an arrangement of Holst's tune. It certainly seems that people tend to prefer the version they knew first. I come from a background of classical music, not Christmas Carols. I prefer the Holst. Well, it looks like In the Bleak Midwinter is unlikely to win the poll, but in light of this discussion I wonder if we won't get some recordings of it (them?) just the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 (edited) ...the Darke version is certainly something other than simply an arrangement of Holst's tune. It certainly seems that people tend to prefer the version they knew first. I come from a background of classical music, not Christmas Carols. I prefer the Holst. Well, it looks like In the Bleak Midwinter is unlikely to win the poll, but in light of this discussion I wonder if we won't get some recordings of it (them?) just the same. Hi Jim, I'm very likely to post a recording of my (at least) playing the Holst tune soon... (shall revive last years ThOTM for that purpose). Best - Wolf Edited December 4, 2014 by blue eyed sailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 (edited) Listened to both settings as performed by the King's College Choir, just to find my first impression from reading the score of the Drake version confirmed, to say the least. When talking about musical "syrup" I'd rather apply that to even the altered melody... Might thus second the quoted comment from youtube... Edited November 30, 2014 by blue eyed sailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Besser Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 ...the Darke version is certainly something other than simply an arrangement of Holst's tune. It certainly seems that people tend to prefer the version they knew first. I come from a background of classical music, not Christmas Carols. I prefer the Holst. Well, it looks like In the Bleak Midwinter is unlikely to win the poll, but in light of this discussion I wonder if we won't get some recordings of it (them?) just the same. Hi Jim, I'm very likely to post a recording of my (at least) playing the Holst tune soon... (shall revive last years ThOTM for that purpose). Best - Wolf That will fit in fine with the yet-to-be-announced December theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewVanitas Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Finally back in the US for the holidays and have my Beaumont in hand again, so voting for Abbot's since I think Duet concertina pulls off "haunting" quite well. Always liked that tune ever since I heard it on a Boiled in Lead album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tootler Posted December 4, 2014 Share Posted December 4, 2014 I think the point was that however appealing Darke's arrangement may be, Holst invented the tune. I take that back. When I posted it I had never heard the Darke version and knew nothing about it except what I had read here, which suggested that it was an arrangement of Holst's tune. I have now heard it and read the Mudcat thread. Whether or not one can call it a completely different tune, and to what extent the similarities owe to the fact that they are settings of the same text are questions that will not be answered here. But the Darke version is certainly something other than simply an arrangement of Holst's tune. It certainly seems that people tend to prefer the version they knew first. I come from a background of classical music, not Christmas Carols. I prefer the Holst. Our choir did the Holst version in our Christmas concert last year and it's the version I'm most familiar with. I was at a local choir concert yesterday and they did the Darke version so it was a good opportunity to compare. Although there are similarities, to me, it's definitely a different tune and not just an arrangement/version of the Holst tune. This was never my favourite carol but I do prefer th Holst tune. Maybe for the reason stated; it was the one I first heard - or more likely, have heard more often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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