The Cherry Snows

For SATB Choir

Listen:

Program Notes

I discovered this poem while searching through a public-domain poetry collection during the early winter months of 2011 and was immediately drawn to its gentle yet deeply expressive character.

With text this delicate, I felt an a cappella setting was the most natural approach. The poem’s even, flowing lines—reminiscent of the steady descent of snow—are reflected in overlapping vocal entrances, text painting, and smooth melodic writing as the four voices gradually build upon one another.

Performance Notes

Difficulty & Ensemble Considerations
The Cherry Snows is written at approximately a Grade 4 level for SATB a cappella choir. The primary challenges lie in maintaining secure intonation and independent vocal lines without instrumental support, while sustaining balance, blend, and clarity of text throughout the ensemble. The overlapping entrances and flowing melodic writing require confident part independence and careful attention to tuning as harmonies build between voices. Conductors should encourage a light, connected approach that preserves the gentle character of the text while maintaining forward motion through the interweaving lines.

Musical Character
The repeated and overlapping treatment of the text should create the impression of gently falling snow, with individual lines emerging and receding within the larger texture. Care should be taken to maintain an even flow between entrances rather than allowing each new phrase to feel overly accented. Dynamic shaping and vowel consistency across sections can help preserve the transparent, floating quality of the work.

Text

The Cherry‐Snows

The cherry-snows are falling now;
Down from the blossom-clouded sky
Of zephyr-troubled twig and bough,
In widely settling whirls they fly.
The orchard earth, unclothed and brown,
Is wintry-hued with petals white:
Even as the snow they glimmer down:
Brief as the snow’s their stainless white.

-Clark Ashton Smith-
(1893-1961)