There is a pristine beauty in this setting of Longfellow’s classic poem. Using winter as a spiritual metaphor, the text takes us from despair to hope, reminding us of the true heart of Christmas. The music, almost minimalistic in nature, floats like snow above a crystal piano accompaniment. Slowly but with great elegance, the material develops and expands, the winsome text swirling around us until finally finding rest in the promise of God’s renewing love and the deep resonance of the final chords. Serenity in sound!