If on a Winter's Night... cover art

  Studio Album · No. 9

If on a Winter's Night... Songwriting Credits by Sting

2009 Deutsche Grammophon 15 tracks 50 min

Produced by Robert Sadin, Sting  ·  Engineered by David Darlington, Tim Mitchell, Todd Whitelock, Bob Ludwig

Deutsche Grammophon FolkClassicalChristmas
33%
Authorship
Co-Performer

Holds writing credit on 5 of 15 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 5 / 15 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 15 tracks with documented writers, by whether Sting carries a lyricist or composer credit.

33%
5 trackswritten by Sting 10 tracksoutside writers
Sting's roles on this album

Share of the 15 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist27%
Composer20%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

15
Tracks
13
Lyricists
2
Producers
544,000
US Copies Sold
2009
Released
Data Insight

If on a Winter's Night... is a seasonal album mostly drawn from traditional winter songs, carols, madrigals, and hymns, so most of its material was written by others. Sting contributes a handful of original compositions among the centuries-old folk and religious pieces. Produced with Robert Sadin, it is largely an interpretive collection rather than a self-written album.

Track Listing & Credits 15 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Gabriel's Message
Traditional Traditional Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
2
Soul Cake
Paul StookeyTracey BatteastElena Mezetti Paul StookeyTracey BatteastElena Mezetti Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
3
There Is No Rose of Such Virtue
Anonymous Anonymous Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
4
The Snow It Melts the Soonest
Traditional Traditional Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
5
Christmas at Sea
Robert Louis Stevenson StingMary Macmaster Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
6
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Theodore Baker Michael Praetorius Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
7
Cold Song
John Dryden Henry Purcell Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
8
The Burning Babe
Robert Southwell Chris Wood Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
9
Now Winter Comes Slowly
Thomas Betterton Henry Purcell Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
10
The Hounds of Winter
Sting Sting Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
11
Balulalow
Traditional Peter Warlock Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
12
The Cherry-Tree Carol
Traditional Traditional Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
13
Lullaby for an Anxious Child
StingDominic Miller StingDominic Miller Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
14
The Hurdy-Gurdy Man
Wilhelm MüllerSting Franz Schubert Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)
15
You Only Cross My Mind in Winter
Sting Johann Sebastian Bach Robert SadinSting Sting (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 21 contributors

S
Sting
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album5 written
T
Traditional
Writer
On this album4 written
HP
Henry Purcell
Writer
On this album2 written
A
Anonymous
Writer
On this album1 written
CW
Chris Wood
Writer
On this album1 written
DM
Dominic Miller
Writer
On this album1 written
EM
Elena Mezetti
Writer
On this album1 written
FS
Franz Schubert
Writer
On this album1 written
JS
Johann Sebastian Bach
Writer
On this album1 written
JD
John Dryden
Writer
On this album1 written
MM
Mary Macmaster
Writer
On this album1 written
MP
Michael Praetorius
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions If on a Winter's Night...

Did Sting write If on a Winter's Night...?
Mostly no. If on a Winter's Night... is a seasonal album built largely from traditional carols, folk songs, madrigals, and hymns written by others. Sting contributes only a few original compositions among them.
What kind of album is If on a Winter's Night... by Sting?
It is a winter and Christmas-themed album of mostly traditional songs spanning folk, classical, and religious music from past centuries. Sting interprets the old material and adds a few originals.
What genre is If on a Winter's Night... by Sting?
If on a Winter's Night... blends folk, classical, and Christmas music. It was released on the classical label Deutsche Grammophon, like Sting's Dowland album.
How did If on a Winter's Night... by Sting perform commercially?
The album reached number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the album chart in Poland, where it was certified 4x Platinum. It was certified Gold in the US.
Who produced If on a Winter's Night... by Sting?
If on a Winter's Night... was produced by Robert Sadin and Sting. Sadin helped shape its acoustic, classically influenced arrangements.
Are there any Sting originals on If on a Winter's Night...?
Yes, a few. While most of the album is traditional or written by others, Sting contributes a small number of original songs to the seasonal collection.

Sources

Wikipedia: If on a Winter's Night... MusicBrainz: If on a Winter's Night release group (Sting) Cover Art Archive: If on a Winter's Night front cover Cover Art Archive: If on a Winter's Night... by Sting