Piano music for a winter's day.

November 6, 2008 9:56 AM

Solo piano music for a crisp winter's day.

This is somewhat specific, but I'm looking for solo piano music that sounds like a cold, beautiful winter morning.

As I imagine it, it will probably have these qualities:

- use of the brilliant upper register of the piano;

- a melancholy major orientation, rather than minor;

- middle Romantic-era to contemporary harmonic language.

If you can think of something that sounds like winter to you without fulfilling any of those secondary characteristics, go ahead and post it anyway.

Thanks!

posted by invitapriore to Media & Arts (24 answers total)

Response by poster: I might note that Rachmaninov's 10th Prelude in G flat from Op. 23 is one example of a piece that I think matches the sentiment well.
posted by invitapriore at 9:58 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Also, oops, I guess the major/minor proscription would only apply to something tonal.
posted by invitapriore at 10:09 AM on November 6, 2008

The Snow Is Dancing by Debussy
posted by Restless Day at 10:18 AM on November 6, 2008 [2 favorites]

Emile Naoumoff's solo piano arrangement of Fauré's Requiem has some nice tracks that may fit the bill. I especially like the In Paradisum.
posted by jedicus at 10:19 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

For more contemporary music, try pianist Roger Eno (Brian Eno's less famous brother). I was thinking specifically of his album "Between Tides" but many of his albums have very much the same autumn or wintery feel. His albums also have orchestration in them so it's not solely piano. The best discription of Between Tides I've ever heard is that "it's music for a winter day after your grandmother has died".
posted by elendil71 at 10:22 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

If you'd like something modern, George Winston has albums for each season. Try December. You may also like Plains or Montana - A Love Story.
posted by Sfving at 10:26 AM on November 6, 2008

">The Velveteen Rabbit (narrated by Meryl Streep) with music by George Winston always makes me think of winter. Some tracks more than others, of course. Bonus, that link has tracks without narration.

Otherwise, George Winston has a lot of seasonally themed piano pieces. Whether or not you consider them to be Romantic-era, well, I wouldn't, but I think you might like them anyway.

To Start:
December
Or
Winter into Spring
Or
Browse his last.fm page

All I can think of for now. Good luck.
posted by Kimothy at 10:33 AM on November 6, 2008

Thirding George Winston - I would add Autumn and Forest.
posted by Craig at 10:36 AM on November 6, 2008

Chopin's etude Op. 25 No. 11 is commonly known as The Winter Wind.
posted by Daily Alice at 10:39 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Aphex Twin - Avril 14th .

Yes I know it's not called Décembre 14th... give it a listen anyway.
posted by Lotto at 11:25 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Along much different lines, Solo Monk by Thelonious Monk has always had a very wintry feel for me.
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:20 PM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Piano Music by Simon Jeffes is one of my favorite winter-reading albums. Jeffes was the leader of the great Penguin Cafe Orchestra; this collection of sketches and improvisations was released posthumously in the late '90s. Because it is a sort of sketchpad, most of the pieces are brief and impressionistic - more like passing thoughts than full compositions - but they are nonetheless quite lovely and atmospheric. (If you're browsing samples, the opening track is fully arranged and does not represent the rest of the album.)
posted by mykescipark at 12:28 PM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Check out Einojuhani Rautavaara's piano music. Many of the etudes, in particular, have an austerity that make me think of winter.
posted by bassjump at 2:17 PM on November 6, 2008

I love the main theme to The Snowman, which is very beautiful and melancholy. Looks like you can get the main theme on iTunes, Amazon is not much help. The cartoon is also very cool. :) If you can't find it, memail me.
posted by sararah at 2:57 PM on November 6, 2008

Michael Jones is an outstanding pianist. Try his Pianoscapes. A couple of his other albums - After the Rain and Magical Child - have quiet unobtrusive accompaniment by flute and strings.
posted by yclipse at 5:26 PM on November 6, 2008

Gershwin Preludes
posted by nax at 5:34 PM on November 6, 2008

"The Heart Asks Pleasure First" by Michael Nyman. It's the theme from "The Piano."
posted by terranova at 7:51 PM on November 6, 2008

"For Bunita Marcus", by Morton Feldman. The John Tilbury recording on his All Piano is one of my favorite things in the world.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:46 PM on November 6, 2008

I'm not sure about your fancy musician-like talk, but I find that Arvo Part's *Alina* puts me in the crisp winter morning mood.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:56 PM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Chopin's Prelude in F, Op. 28 No. 23.
posted by misteraitch at 12:55 AM on November 7, 2008

Best answer: I'm surprised that nobody has suggested Tchaikovsky's "The Season" suite yet. October and November may fit your bill best.
posted by of strange foe at 8:55 AM on November 7, 2008

The scores to The Hours and Pride and Prejudice (Phillip Glass and Dario Marianelli respectively) are a little bit of a warmer feeling than "crisp," but I'd give them a shot - they might compliment some things on this list pretty well.

I'll be back with more, but I'm listening to Jay Brannan right now and so my internal iPod is a bit occupied at the moment.
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:23 AM on November 7, 2008

Debussy definitele rings true...how about Erik Satie?
posted by DandyRandy at 11:25 AM on November 7, 2008

Eluvium, An Accidental Memory in Case of Death
posted by NemesisVex at 12:13 PM on November 7, 2008