Winter Melodies

I. Gusts of Snow
II. Wind and Ice
III. Frost on Roses
IV. Hot Chocolate!

Winter Melodies was commissioned by the Groveland String Quartet of Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1984. The orchestra version was written for the San Jose Chamber Orchestra's 2000-2001 Tenth Anniversary season.

Winter Melodies is a programmatic work-each movement paints a picture of winter or emotions brought on by winter.

In Gusts of Snow, the wind curls tendrils of snow across a field and around trees. Quartal harmony, sliding trills, folded scales and dance-like rhythms contribute to the open and spacious feeling of this movement.

Wind and Ice sounds the way cold feels. The whistling sound you first hear represents wind and the high artificial harmonics-the ice. The cold, forlorn melody evokes images of despair and bitter cold.

The third movement, Frost on Roses, describes lost love. The picture of a rose, its petals black with the first frost, represents grief.

When the cold and dark of winter gets to be too much, what a person needs is a cup of Hot Chocolate! This upbeat swing jazz piece pays tribute to famous swing tunes in its theme and variations format. Each variation has a name that reflects its tribute tune.

Variation 1: Miller Time (String of Pearls; composer, Jerry Gray)
Variation 2: Floogee Feet (Flat Foot; Floogee; composers, Slim Gaillard, Slam Stewart, and Bud Green)
Variation 3: Mood Swings (In the Mood; composer, Joe Garland