Saxophone Quartet,Woodwind Ensemble - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1313145 By Hugh Levey. By Gustav Holst. Arranged by Hugh Levey. 20th Century,Advent,Chamber,Christmas,Religious. 15 pages. Woodwindly.com #901978. Published by woodwindly.com (A0.1313145). Saxophone Quartet (SATB or AATB)In the Bleak Mid-Winter is a popular Christmas Carol which has been set to music by both Gustav Holst and Harold Darke. This sax quartet arrangement is based on the Holst version and combines the composer's beautifully simple harmony with the arranger's own counter-melodies and intricate wind writing. Lovely writing for all instruments. An ideal work for Christmas concert programming.This is a through-composed instrumental arrangement that explores the melody and harmonies of the Holst hymn in 3 differently arranged verses. After a short introduction the first verse uses Holst’s original 4-part harmonisation in its beautiful simplicity, with soprano saxophone playing the melodic line. In verse 2, the tenor sax presents the tune in a lower register while the baritone plays a Baroque style ‘walking bass’. The sopranoe and alto weave countermelodies above them, introducing new material for a Pachelbel-like interlude of an ascending sequence - bringing the music to a climax before subsiding into verse 3. Here a slightly ornamented version of the tune returns with the new material continuing in the bass line. After another smaller climax we return to the original Holst as the work ends quietly and thoughtfully.