Carol Worthey

for Piano solo
Performance Time 4:52
Skill Level: High Intermediate to Advanced

Having spent her childhood in New England, Carol Worthey has a great fondness for the magic of sparkling snowfall, although she prefers to enjoy it from inside by a cozy fire. Come along with the composer on a playful snow journey!

Snow Flurries begins delicately with the fall of just a few lacey snowflakes as the musical texture recreates the white transparency of individual drops of crystal. Bit by bit a subtle blend of major and minor scale-runs overlap, adding a sense of weight and intensity to the depiction of snowdrifts and capricious winds. Finally the snowstorm settles back where it began with a few staccato drops of snow. A signature mischevious touch at the very end with a hand-over-hand showy passage recreates an all-too-familiar scene to anyone who has grown up with snow: The snowfall is over, it sparkles invitingly in the sun and you can't wait to make a snowman--you're all bundled up in cap and mittens and... just as you open the door, an icy splash of loose snow from the roof falls on your unsuspecting face! Ah, nostalgia. It wasn't so pleasant way-back-when, but it sure sounds dazzling.

Technically, Snow Flurries is a fun and audience-pleasing recital piece for High Intermediate to Advanced Level pianists, with rapid scale passages, a variety of finger-touches and subtle use of both damper and soft pedals to create echo effects. The composer has added her fingering suggestions to make this Toccata (or "touch piece") valuable for both student, teacher and performer.

The cover artwork by Carol is designed to evoke a similar mood.

Underlying the magical feeling of this piece is the nearly mystical wonder and scientific reality of snowflakes, each one totally unique from any others, just as each one of us is unique. Carol hopes that the journey and the message take you to a nice place!