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- Joan Tower
Snow Dreams (1983)
- Associated Music Publishers Inc (World)
Programme Note
Snow Dreams was completed in January 1983 and is dedicated to Sharon Isbin and Carol Wincenc, who commissioned it through a grant from the Schubert Club.
Composer Note:
There are many different images of snow, its forms and its movements: light snow flakes pockets of swirls of snow, rounded drifts, long white plains of blankets of snow, light and heavy snowfalls, etc. Many of these images can be found in the piece, if in fact, they need to be found at all. The listener will determine that choice.
—Joan Tower
Composer Note:
There are many different images of snow, its forms and its movements: light snow flakes pockets of swirls of snow, rounded drifts, long white plains of blankets of snow, light and heavy snowfalls, etc. Many of these images can be found in the piece, if in fact, they need to be found at all. The listener will determine that choice.
—Joan Tower
Media
Scores
Reviews
[A] program of relatively conservative 20th century music reached its peak of adventurousness with Joan Tower’s 1983 “Snow Dreams.” For this listener, it also represented the recital’s peak of interest.
It’s a rather episodic work that continually reveals new and not necessarily connected ideas. Opening with a contemplative solo statement for each instrument, the duo then dug intently into a four-note motif… reminiscent of the so-called “fate theme” of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. This developed into some wonderfully chattery interplay for the two instruments before going on to such other expressions as a series of separate expostulations on different ideas segued together very artfully.
It’s a rather episodic work that continually reveals new and not necessarily connected ideas. Opening with a contemplative solo statement for each instrument, the duo then dug intently into a four-note motif… reminiscent of the so-called “fate theme” of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. This developed into some wonderfully chattery interplay for the two instruments before going on to such other expressions as a series of separate expostulations on different ideas segued together very artfully.
22nd October 1993
[One] highlight was a 1983 score entitled “Snow Dreams” by Joan Tower, gently dazzling in its agile synchronization of the two instruments.
13th November 1988
Beguiling, well-made music.
20th April 1983
Discography
- LabelNaxos
- Catalogue Number8559146
- SoloistJeff McFadden, guitar; Alexandra Hawley, flute
- LabelAlbany Records
- Catalogue Number379
- SoloistNicholas Goluses, guitar; Bonita Boyd, flute
- LabelNew World Records
- Catalogue Number80470
- SoloistSharon Isbin, guitar; Carol Wincenc, flute