We shall walk

Adapted from Velvet Shoes by Elinor Wylie, the text of this carol portrays the tranquil, almost eerie, atmosphere of walking alone in fresh snow. The musical setting reflects scenery, with a soaring soprano line and freely flowing melody, which is reharmonised and redirected in each verse to emphasise the nuances of the poetry.

Time signatures change frequently to accommodate the natural flow of the text, and the sound world draws on modal, almost folk-like harmonies, with shifting musical colours driven by semitones and swirling chord progressions. The carol ends as quietly as it began, with a soprano solo.