Come The Winter Snow
Written by Joe Buchheit
Links to contributors: New Christmas Music, Joe Buchheit
"Come, the Winter Snow" was the first holiday song I wrote, and it is still my favorite. Early in December of 2007, I was in the basement of my college dorm, practicing piano. I was mostly playing Chopin at the time, and all of a sudden I felt the urge to write something for the holidays, which were right around the corner. The first thing I began playing was what eventually became the piano introduction to "Come, the Winter Snow".
Though it may not seem like it, the piano introduction still has that improvisational feeling to me. The left hand was playing a simple pattern, with a descending bass note –first chromatic and then diatonic – all the way to the supertonic, to the dominant, and then from there to the tonic. In the right hand, I was playing something to go with that simple, rocking motion. What I got was a lot livelier but still mellow, or tender. Together, the sound came off as peaceful, and reminiscent. When playing it, the image that came to my mind was a snowfall outside; a soft, quiet fall. With that thought, I wrote the opening lyric, 'Come, the winter snow'. After that opening, the rest of the song came to me handily, and I finished the piece in about two days.
There have been many revisions from then until now, but the overall feel of the piece is exactly the same. When I hear it now on a high-quality recording, I can still see the snow falling, and I get that feeling of Christmas, but the less realized side of Christmas. On one hand, Christmas is about glamorous decorations, giving gifts, and celebrating with friends and family. But on the other, it is about being at peace with loved ones by your side, watching the snowfall and thinking about the passing year. "Come, the Winter Snow" has that feel.
The singer in this recording is my sister Marisa Buchheit. Many thanks, Marisa! You did a wonderful job. I also extend thanks to Elton Smith for posting my song. - Joe, November 24, 2009.
