(I-Summer / II-Shadows from the North / III-Winter)
Composed by Louis Valentine Johnson
Performed by Aleksandra Sapok
Movement I, Summer, is our longest day with the most daylight of the year. It begins with a cheerful springtime allegretto melody in D Major moving quickly to A Major. A springtime pinnacle ensues with rapid scale passages, presenting sunlight. A grave section speaks to the beauty, pain, and joys of life. Harmonies tilt and gravity pulls.
Movement II Shadows from the North, is an autumn equinox transition. Harvest arrives. Colors light to dark imbue shades in between. There is a chill in the evening air. We light a bonfire. Portamentos, arpeggiations, tambouras, glissandos, bends, scale passages, tremolos and chords of yellow, brown, and orange touch our hands, ears and minds. Flowers fade and leaves fall from the trees.
Movement III, Winter, the shortest, darkest day of the year, arrives in a commotion as a repeating e minor suspended 2nd chord to illustrate the journey of wind over mountains, valleys, through every branch of each tree to finally touch us. Wind, snow, and ice abound. These harmonic transitions imitate unpredictable events with a (unusual for us guitarists) foray into the key of D sharp. A feeling of change is in the cool air of the season. Something different is happening. Short days and long nights bring a December chill. Firewood for below zero is more than a necessity. Hibernation becomes reality.
Video Editing by Robbi Spencer / SE Studios
Sheet music engraving and final audio and video editing by Richard Altenbach
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