Lighten up your program with this tongue-in-cheek work that pokes fun at all those aspects of winter that some people extol. Winter Blues is dedicated to those who hate winter, and is bound to be an audience pleaser.

The piano part is very difficult in places. A set of recorded piano segments is available from the composer to simplify performance of this piece if your accompanist cannot manage the part.

The choir is asked not only to sing but to also create various effects:

• Normal notes are sung

• Notes with diamond heads are spoken but with a sustained approximate pitch, halfway between speaking and singing. Do not attempt to have everyone in the section on the same pitch.

• Text in slash regions (e.g. Bar 84) is spoken.

• Barr 88 ff: Stockhausen tongue clicks (>L).

• Bar 146 ff: Water dripping: Finger in mouth against cheek then flicked out to pop, or hand tap on cheek with open mouth, cheeks tense to create pop.

• Clapping, stomping, yelling, whistling, etc.

The following works are misquoted, and I extend my sincere apologies to the composers:

• Emile Waldteufel – The Skater’s Waltz

• Stompin' Tom Connors – The Hockey Game

• James Pierpoint - Jingle Bells

• Mel Torme & Bob Wells - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

My sincere thanks are extended to Cheryl Jarvis Woods and the Workshop Choir for their assistance and patience in the development of this work which they premiered May 30, 2019.

Have fun!

Score: 19 pages Piano: 9 pages