Florida native Roger Zare (b. 1985) is an American composer whose works span multiple genres and have won many awards. He has completed numerous residencies with organizations around the world. His love of science is often evident in his music, and it has led to collaborations with CERN, among others. After childhood studies on violin and piano, Zare studied composition at the USC Thornton School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, and the University of Michigan. He is currently on the composition faculty at Illinois State University. See more about him at his website, Wikipedia, FJH Music, New Music Chicago, the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.
December Lullaby was written in 2017 (revised in 2019) for a commission by five schools. It was also repurposed for flex band in 2020 – both versions are still available from Zare’s website, which also features perusal scores for both. The site also includes this program note:
I grew up in Florida and never experienced the harshness or the beauty of winter until I was in my 20s. Now that I have lived farther north for over a decade, I still look forward to seeing the first snowfall each year. It rapidly transforms a bleak autumn landscape into a peaceful and delicate one, covering ragged leafless branches with a rounded cloak of snow. As you listen to this piece, imagine watching the first snow of the season while wrapped in a blanket, sipping hot chocolate next to a crackling fireplace. Throughout December Lullaby, there is an alternation between intimate chamber-like settings and lush full-ensemble textures. Opening with only a solo flute and piano, numerous woodwind and brass solos follow, repeating the flowing melody as more and more instruments join the texture. The middle section is more agitated and more grand, with colorful and expansive harmonies. Eventually, the return of the first melody is combined with elements from the middle section, but calmness persists through to the end.
Here is the full band version:
And one rendition of the flex version:
December Lullaby is also featured on Murphy Music Press, J. W. Pepper, Yumpu, the Wind Repertory Project, and Groth Music.