Snowstorm

Joshua Whited

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Ensemble

2022

8 min.

Euphonium

Tuba

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Program Notes: This piece was dedicated to a unique occurrence in my life originally: experiencing snow for the first time. It was 2011, and I was 12 years old when a practical snowstorm was enveloping the middle Tennessee area. I went to school that morning knowing that snow was coming, but not when. I remember looking out the band room door and seeing it begin to fall. Next, an intercom, "we are letting out early." I was ecstatic, however trying to get home was near impossible for my mother and I. I remember her desperation when we started skidding on the snow, the Murano she used to own was not capable of driving on it. But she trudged through it. What was a 10-minute drive normally took nearly an hour of constant skidding and angry desperations. We were lucky though... Up North, thousands without power, no way to keep warm as the temperatures dropped. People were stranded on the I-65, abandoning their vehicles in search of help. Towns were completely shutdown. No emergency personnel could come to save them. The southern states were in complete anarchy from the snow. Years later, in 2022. Buffalo, NY would suffer a similar fate to the residents of Kentucky. However, the tragedy was 10-fold as worse: 47 dead, more than 100,000 without power... This reminds me of the duality of such a blissful thing. Snow can bring our favorite days, however for many, it also comes as a harbinger of chaos. It's temporariness is mysterious. It appears, stays for a couple days, then it is gone. The Earth shown anew as it melts away under the heat of the sun. Cherish the snow... for one day it could turn into a snowstorm...
Recording Notes: "Snowstorm" was originally premiered by the Tennessee Technological University Tuba Ensemble on 10/18/2023 at Tennessee Technological University. Due to ownership of the recording go to Tennessee Technological University, I am not allowed to share the recording on any public forum, such as this website. This recording is from Finale 25 with the Garritan sound library and ARIA Player Engine.
Ensemble Name: Tennessee Technological University Tuba Ensemble (TTTE)