Prevernal

Ecologists refer to the term prevernal to describe the period of late winter that transitions into early spring. This is the mood and atmosphere depicted in this piece. The piece is divided into two sections. The first is winter, featuring icy orchestration through piano, vibraphone, and bowed crotales. It begins very still, with only slight movement. Motion increases and the parts gradually become more active before the climax of the winter season, which quickly subsides and leads into early spring. The piece then builds until spring is here in all its glory. It concludes with a majestic flourish of runs, rolls, and arpeggios.