for solo piano
duration: 15’

MOVEMENTS

I. a bird flies
II. bare branches
III. snowfalls
IV. winter stars
V. the moon’s gaze in a valley of snow

PROGRAM NOTE

Winter reveals. In the quiet and barren winter landscape, we’re able to see the shapes and structures of forms usually covered or unnoticed.

This piece explores some of my favorite (revealed) winter forms: dark, splintering branches of trees; swooping arcs of a lone bird in flight; soft falling traceries of snow; and the cold, clear light of the winter moon and stars, illuminating the undulating folds the land.

The titles of the last two movements come from Mark Strand’s poem, “Lines of Winter.” The title of the second movement was inspired by “Winter Branches,” a piece written by one of my composition teachers, David Kechley.