Before Spring for English horn and piano

Premiere: April 13, 2007, Karen Birch, English horn; St. Croix, Virgin Islands

PROGRAM NOTE

Composed in early March 2007, this work captures my feeling of the waning weeks of winter. This familiar in-between season is when the snow falls one day but may melt the next. The clear melody lines and the tranquil harmony that bookend the piece reflect this mood. A brief interlude of activity anticipates the warmer season ahead. I was fortunate to be able to write this piece during a busy period of work; the serene sounds had a wonderful calming effect.

— Philip Rothman