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Rien Schalkwijk ShopCantabile No. 12: Winter’s Embrace / L’Abbraccio dell’Inverno (Op. 32)

Cantabile No. 12: Winter’s Embrace / L’Abbraccio dell’Inverno (Op. 32)

On the second day of 2025 the weather channel predicted snow in the Netherlands for coming weekend. While it's cold with a sour wind from the East, I wanted to write a winter piece. A frosty elegant winter piece inspired by the crisp beauty and serenity of winter. Rooted in Venetian Baroque and French Romantic traditions, this piece takes listeners on an emotional journey through the season’s contrasts: the icy chill, joyful flurries, serene stillness, and the hopeful whisper of spring.

The structure (AaBbCcAa) mirrors the cyclical nature of winter: A reflective opening with a crystalline melody and gently dissonant harmonies, repeater a touch slower to mimic the sleeping nature. This is followed by a lively middle section featuring cascading sixteenth notes. The third part is a tranquil, introspective moment of winter’s silence. The last part, a reprise for the first part, played a touch quicker with a somewhat brighter registration, signaling hope and renewal.