SteveStrummerUK
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In The Bleak Midwinter
My favourite Christmas carol, this has one of the most beautiful melodies I have ever heard  IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
This is the first time I've ever tried anything quite like this, so as usual, any comments and advice on any aspect of this instrumental will be gratefully received. The words, if you want to sing along ( including omitted verse): In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
post edited by SteveStrummerUK - 2011/12/07 18:46:03
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bapu
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/07 16:14:04
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Simply Gorgeous Straummy!!! And the song was very pretty too!! 
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Old55
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/07 16:44:56
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Should auld acquaintance be forgot--hey, who the hell are you guys? X2(X3 pending hardware upgrade), Emulator X2, E-mu 1212M, Virtual String Machine
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Karyn
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/07 18:11:39
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Yeah, great, wonderful. And the cowbell is where?
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Beagle
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/07 18:20:23
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I don't understand...I kept waiting for the distorted wailing lead and hard bashing rhythm? did I miss it?  good stuff!
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paulo
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/07 18:36:22
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not working - I'll try again another time
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Danny Danzi
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/07 18:55:37
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Wow, you go Steve! This is definitely different! Really beautiful melody...great orchestration...I can so hear this on one of those Christmas TV shows...impressive! I saw words....I started thinking...."omg, he's gonna sing too?" I could hear Julie or Bub singing on this one. Two strong, incredible voices....hmm...there's an idea...a duet! *Shuttup Danny* I can hear it now. LOL! This was quite awesome Steve...nicely done on everything...no crits from my wordy, picky arse...spot on great song matey!
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Guitarhacker
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/07 20:32:24
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Yeah.... really nice.... I second Danny's suggestion for a duet in there if you plan on vocals....
I like the church organ that came in. Very nice.
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Doc_Hollingsworth
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 00:34:03
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bandontherun19
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 01:07:47
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Not what I expected from you, not at all...
And Winter doesn't begin until the 21st? A shade under 2 weeks away. It's still fall!! But it feels like winter?
I listened all the way through? I did enjoy it, but I would say, for a classical piece like this? There needs to be more counter point... i.e., if the strings are carrying the lead (as they were) then you need the winds to carry a counter point? And the brass another? Orchestra is "non-trivial..." And it is not undertaken without tremendous commitment, skill and talent. Please do not conclude that I consider myself committed, skilled, or talented in this area? I'm just saying... We all make music? All of us... But to do the orchestra? Well. It's non-trivial. It's not Bass, Drums, Guitar and vocals? The orchestra "breathes?" The orchestra is quiet? And then it's not? The orchestra has melodies, and counter point? Things come in? Things go out? The orchestra is non-trivial... Not that anything we do is? But the orchestra is "non-trivial..."
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jamesg1213
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 03:23:57
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Nicely done Steve, I enjoyed that.
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Rimshot
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 08:07:53
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Steve,
I see a family walking down a road all bundled up with coats, scarves, and gloves going over to their neighbors for dinner. Doesn't seem bleak but warm and inviting. Great job.
Rimshot
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Scottytunes
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 09:15:28
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Very nice, Steve. The picture is familiar. I'd love to hear vox on this!
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notnat
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 09:37:08
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very nice Steve... well done...
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Wookiee
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 12:06:09
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Interesting take, I second the duet on the vocal, (or is it a third?).
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 12:39:31
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That was good, I was half expecting distorted guitars to come crashing in at some point. I liked the instrument changes throughout. Good job Steve.
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Purple Rhapsody
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 12:47:46
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I enjoyed the arrangement although there was one nagging problem throughout - the piano (and the organ) have instant/fast attacks whereas the strings take a fraction of a second longer to reach audible volume so I kept hearing the piano leading the strings by that fraction of a second.
Apart from that minor thing though, I really enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Terry.
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57Gregy
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 23:03:09
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I don't think I've ever heard this one before.
Nice job, Steve.
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Guitarpima
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 23:53:16
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I must be living in a cave or something. Wait, I live in a dungeon! lol! I've never heard this.
Well done! It sounds really good.
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ohgrant
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/08 23:53:57
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I'm not familiar with it. You never cease to amaze me me my brother. Wonderful!
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SteveStrummerUK
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/09 15:20:46
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Thanks Ed and Jan - you guys rock LOL Karyn - maybe I could have found room for some cow sleigh bells He he Beag, it had definitely crossed my mind! Thanks for checking it out, and for the kind words Danny Cheers Herb - I can't sing a note so unless I get any volunteers, it's going to remain an instrumental
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SteveStrummerUK
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/09 15:31:10
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Cheers Del - has any of that Guinness that Bob waylaid started arriving yet? Hey Robby, thanks for taking a listen. I appreciate everything you say, this is the probably the first 'serious' project I've undertaken using MIDI for anything other than drums. It's a steep learning curve but as they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. James, thanks old pal. Many thanks Rimshot, I appreciate your kind words Thanks Scott - and one thing's for certain, you wouldn't want to hear my vox on it Hey Frank - thanks for taking a listen good sir. Are you volunteering Wook  And thanks mate.
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morenoise
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/09 16:16:07
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Hi Steve, very nice for a first try, quite a contrast to your last , very metal outing ; ) I would like a bit more reverb on this for a nice sense of space. Jobs a good'un.
Rik
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CLEAN
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/09 21:03:58
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Steve, I've never heard this tune before - it is absolutely beautiful - and you did a great job on this - I just love what you have done here.
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Tap
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/10 10:33:15
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Very cool, Steve and as you stated, this is quite different for you.
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jbow
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/10 10:46:09
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Steve, I have listened to several songs this AM (in the forum) this is the only one that made me lay back and close my eyes. It is very pleasing. I like the words too. It seemed like the backing piano around 1:14 could be a wee bit louder. I listened through AKG-240s and I'm glad I did, thanks! BTW, I am glad you didn't scare me with a loud guitar in the middle when you had me in a semi-trace.. Merry Christmas to you. Julien
post edited by jbow - 2011/12/10 10:50:11
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drumstixkev
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/10 10:55:51
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Hey Steve, I didn't know you could play anything that didn't have a DISTORTION pedal. This is one of my FAVS. I really enjoyed your performance very smooth. WONDERFUL cover! Kev P.S. Hint on your next song . . . piano + distortion pedal. Think about it .
post edited by drumstixkev - 2011/12/10 10:57:38
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SteveStrummerUK
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/11 10:55:14
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Hey Karl, thanks mate. LOL that was how it was planned to happen, but in the end I showed some restraint Thanks Terry, I appreciate your comments and I agree completely with what you say about the attack of the keys. I'm picking up this stuff as I go along so that's definitely something to add to my to-learn list. Many thanks Greg and Robert - there are a couple of completely different arrangements to this carol, and I believe the music to this version was written by Gustav Holst. LOL, and thanks brother G
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Wookiee
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/11 15:13:25
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Are you volunteering Wook And thanks mate. Do you have world wide third party life insurances. A single Wookiee note has been known to kill at 1 par sec.
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
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Bob Oister
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Re:In The Bleak Midwinter
2011/12/12 04:01:32
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Hi, Steve,
Wonderful job on this beautiful carol!
The arrangement and orchestration were excellent, and I really loved the pipe organ at around 1:25, very authentic sounding.
Nicely done, fantastic job, my friend! Bob
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