“Five Little Winters” (2026) | Suite for flute and clarinet ~9’30
A slightly deceptive title, “Little Winters” refers to cold snaps that occur during the spring months (March through May), observed by Tennessee’s Historical Society.
This suite for flute and clarinet consists of 5 miniatures, and players double on piccolo and bass clarinet throughout the performance.
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1’20” | Occurring from mid-March to Early April, this is the season when redbuds begin to bloom.
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1’30” | When leaves start to appear on locust trees in early April.
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2’30” | Mid- to late April, when dogwood trees bloom, and heavy frost often falls. I attempted to emulate the juxtaposition between blooming flowers in the air ,and cold sheets covering the ground.
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2’15” | Early to mid-May, when blackberries are in full bloom; often coinciding with the last frost of spring, which kills new plants on the farm.
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1’50” | The final movement of this suite, “Whippoorwill Winter” refers to the season where whippoorwills can first be heard calling at twilight. I attempted to mimic the bird’s cry with the flute’s ascending motive.