All of the music for Winter Mornings came to Shirley Cason during the early hours of winter days, hence the title. Played on various keyboards, several of the selections have a cool, ambient feel while others are more melodic and structured. “Beauty of the Earth” opens the CD with a gentle song about God and Earth’s marriage, and all of us being the children of their universe. “Winter Skies” is a bit more orchestrated, depicting an icy coolness and the stillness of early morning. Ambient and floating, this is a very effective piece. “Icicle Melt” comes from the dripping sounds of icicles melting off the house. Electronic and elegant, this piece is much more ambient than melodic, and has a very shimmering beauty. “10 Degrees” is my favorite track. Darkly beautiful, it is like the light dancing and sparkling off of early morning snow. There is also a sense of mystery and of a vastness that works really well. “Snow Dance” is almost a musical Christmas card. Gentle bell-like sounds create the feeling of snowflakes swirling and of morning light bouncing off of the surface of the snow. Very serene and peaceful with a gentle rhythm for the dance. “Children and Snowmen” is a bit lighter although it is far from bright and carefree. The piece becomes more orchestrated as it develops, and would be lovely as the soundtrack to a scene of winter activities. The CD closes with “Gulf of Florida,” a musical admission of needing to flee the snow for a week each year to warm up. It’s a very charming way to end this chilly and evocative collection. Winter Mornings is a wonderful CD for relaxing or cozying up to a winter fire. Very enjoyable! It is available from amazon.com and shirleycason.com.