The signs of spring are all around. The blossoms on the cherry trees were absolutely beautiful in Washington D.C. a few weeks ago, and white gardenias are blooming now in Florida. While flowers are blooming, many piano students are getting ready for spring recitals.

Many beautiful piano solos have been composed with titles suggesting that they were inspired and written in the spring. Here are some of those pieces:

"May Night" by Selim Palmgren
"Voices of Spring," Op. 410 by Johann Strauss
"June: Barcarolle" from The Four Seasons by Tchaikovsky
"To Spring," Op. 43, No. 6, by Edward Grieg
"Spring Dance", Op. 24, No. 2 by Giusppe Concone
"Song of Spring," Op. 62, No. 6 by Felix Mendelssohn
"Rustle of Spring," Op. 32, No. 3 by Christian Sinding

Mendelssohn was inspired to composed the Scherzo in E minor after imagining that the flowers in the garden were instruments. One flower looked like a trumpet so the beginning of the song has a trumpet-like fanfare. Think of flowers instead of notes as you play this delightful piece.

Amy Beach, the great women composer, titled her composition, "From Grandmother's Garden," Op. 97, with names of flowers such as Morning Glories and Honeysuckle in the musical suite.

How can a song sound like a flower? How can a song sound like springtime?

When I listen to Vivaldi's "Spring" from The Four Seasons, it does sound very fresh and uplifting. It makes me feel happy and full of energy. Spring is a time of rebirth. We see signs of rebirth with flowers growing, green trees with new growth, baby ducklings swimming in a pond, birds learning to fly. Music should be able to express a composer's feelings and if we can catch the inspiration when replaying the piece, how wonderful!

Take time to play some of these lovely songs of spring or compose one that expresses your feelings of springtime.

There is a Swedish folk song, "Spring Song" in Celebrate the Piano Book Four on page 32. Below is an excerpt. I hope you enjoy playing it and feel happy that it is springtime again.