Description
This accessible arrangement can be played on lever or pedal harp and it is lower intermediate level. It begins with melody alone in the key of G minor and elides into a section of left hand arpeggios supporting the right hand melody. The middle portion is in the key of C minor and the texture is a lighter style of two voices. Then there is a modulation back to the key of G minor and the left hand arpeggio section. The last phrase of the carol is repeated-melody only. The range is from bass clef first line G to treble clef D above second ledger line. Some harmonics occur in the piece.
The Huron Carol or “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”, written in the early 1640’s, is known as Canada’s oldest Christmas hymn. The translation of Jean de Brebeuf’s text describes the birth of the Christ child from the perspective of the Huron people. The dwelling place of the infant child is referred to as a lodge of broken bark. The baby Jesus is said to be wrapped in a ragged robe of rabbit skin. The melody of the Huron Carol is based on a traditional French fold song. This hymn has found its way into many modern-day hymnals.
