Music of Winter

The wintry selections highlighted below won't necessarily lift your spirits nor give respite from the chill and snow of late, but if you're of a mood to embrace this dark season, you may want to listen to some of these pieces from the comfort of your home or fireplace.

If on a Winter's Night by Sting (UMG, 2009) CD Holiday Music S

 "An evocative collection of lullabies, carols and songs ...celebrat[ing] the many facets of winter"  [from the cover]

The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi; Sarah Chang, Violin; with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (EMI, 2007) CD Concerto V

Concerto no. 4 in F Minor - Winter

                                                                                                 

Winter

[sonnet on which Vivaldi's L'Inverno - 

Winter from the Four Seasons is based;

possibly written by Vivaldi, 

translated by H.C. Robbins Landon]

The Four Seasons: Concertos
by Antonio Vivaldi;Leonard Bernstein
and the New York Philharmonic
(Sony, 1998) CD Chamber Music V

Frozen and trembling among the chilly snow

Our breathing hampered by horrid winds,

As we run, we stamp our feet continuously,

Our teeth chatter with the frightful cold:

We move to the fire and contented peace,

While the rain outside pours in sheets.

Now we walk on the ice, with slow steps,

Attentive how we walk, for fear of falling;

If we move quickly, we slip and fall to earth,

Again walking heavily on the ice,

Until the ice breaks and dissolves;

We hear from the closed doors

Boreas and all the winds at war -

This is winter, but such as brings joy.

Winterreise by Franz Schubert; Matthew Rose, bass; Gary Matthewman, piano.(Stone Records, 2012)  CD Vocal S 
These 24 songs of a winter journey by a lone wanderer are based on poems by Wilhelm Muller (1794-1827).  "Winterreise is not charming, not light, not pretty; its beauty is of a different and deeper order, like that of Greek tragedy or Rembrandt's portraits of his own old age." [from Susan Youens' liner notes].



If interested in hearing the cycle sung by a tenor, as Schubert originally composed it, try this version:
Winterreise by Franz Schubert; Ian Bostridge, tenor; Leif Ove Andsnes, piano. (EMI Classics, 2004)  CD Vocal S

Northern Lights, vocals by Sissel; featuring Jose Carreras. (Denon, 2007)  CD New Age S

Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebo sings a mix of traditional, classical, and original songs of a winter theme including Icelandic Lullaby and Hymn to Winter.