Daily Classical Music Post
Florence Price: “Song for Snow”
The decorations are up, the holiday music is blaring in the shops; there is no mistaking what time of year it is. This December, the Daily Classical Music Post will introduce you to music composed for or inspired by holidays that occur in the month of December. There will be a little something for everyone (I hope)!
The American composer Florence Price (1887–1953) composed “Song for Snow” for choir and piano in 1930, but it wasn’t published until after her death. The text was taken from a poem by Elizabeth Coatsworth.
Classic FM said, “Price’s vocal lines emulate falling snowflakes with an overarching descending melody, and a delicate piano accompaniment. Soft staccato homophony later evokes an icy landscape, before returning to the sweet, laid-back melody.”
Price’s mastery of choral writing is evident in this relatively simple and straightforward work. The opening canon brings to mind a gentle snowstorm. Price was influenced by jazz and that is also evident in this lovely winter piece that brings to mind sleigh rides and Christmas cheer.
My classical music post for today is Florence Price’s “Song for Snow.”