Instrumental Solo Composition of the Day, Final Installment, No. 27:
"Winter, You Scoundrel! (The Wrong of Winter)"
for
Bassoon Solo
(1983)
I recall what inspired this piece. Boston had warm, sunny weather one day in December, soon followed by a fierce snowstorm hit. Thus the title.
The title is borrowed from one of Debussy's choral works; the punny subtitle turns the meaning of Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" on its head. Yes, I know the difference in meaning between "Rite" and "Right," but that is part of what is punny.
The opening motif recalls that of the "The Rite of Spring," then the music that follows develops my variation on that motif. Irrespective of the implied levity in the subtitle, the mood of the music is actually sad and mournful.
Follow the next URL to view a scrolling score music video of "Winter, You Scoundrel!" on YouTube.
"Winter, You Scoundrel!" is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Follow the next URL to visit the distributor's product page for this title.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Stanley M. Hoffman, PhD
Biography Published in Grove Music Online (The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Oxford University Press)
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