A Song of Winter?Snowmen & Icicles
PhyllisAvidan Louke
Length: 6:45
Difficulty: 3 to 3+

Evocative of a cold and windy dayin winter, A Song of Winter explores the contrasts between thesmoothness and roundness of a snowman and the hardness and jaggedness oficicles.

Beginning with a winter stormwith wind and swirling snow, the wind calms, and the building of a snowmanbegins with the rolling of a snowball. The rolling forms the biggest ball of the snowman (represented by thebass and alto flutes), which is briefly interrupted by a playful snowballfight. The flutes continue the melodyfor the rolling of the second ball of the snowman, followed by the piccolorepresenting the rolling of the smallest ball (the head of the snowman). The melody is smooth and round in a lilting I time.

With the snowman complete, thewind and swirling snow return to lead into the Icicles section. The jaggedness of the icicles is representedby the jaggedness of syncopation in a marcato style with the melody skippinglarger intervals than the Snowmen melody. Visually, the score shows the jagged shape ofthe icicles. Double-tongued ascendingand descending lines, add to hard and brittle feeling of the icicles, as wellas to the shape of the melody. Thepiccolo adds the glistening, shimmering effect of sunlight reflecting off the icicles. Eventually, fragments of the Snowmenmelody are interspersed with the Icicles, followed by a final windstorm, which calms at the end of the piece.

Christmas
Winter
Winter Holidays
Stormy
Concert
Original Composition

The theme song from Halloween ranks as one of the creepiest movie theme songs ever. It was first composed in 1978, and is still creeping people out just as strong as ever. Critics have grumbled about it being too simple, but that's what makes this piece so memorable.

Set at a time signature of 5/4 throughout, this arrangement is scored for 2 C flutes, alto, and bass. Each of these 4 parts have 2 part divisis at one point or other. Optional contrabass and cello parts are also included.

It goes without saying that this piece should be played in a cold and mechanical manner. It definitely isn't a "pretty" piece. The lower instruments should be strong, while the upper instruments tip toe on top. If you would like to add a little more interest to the piece, an egg shaker could be played at every beat.

This will give your audience the heebie jeebies.

This piece is simple enough for musicians with intermediate skill.

Duration: 2.25 minutes