In Alexander Glazunov’s ballet “The Seasons,” the "Winter" section contains variations depicting Hoar Frost, Ice, Hail, Snow.
So what is Hoar Frost?
This type of frost happens only in winter in the Great Lakes region, and presumably in Russia.
It is the kind of frost that makes the world look like it is covered in lace, but it you take the time to look closely, it means every blade of grass, every remaining leaf, any exposed solid object is covered with little spikes — tiny, glittering ice crystals.
Conditions must be just right: the air must be very still and have a high dew point — a great deal of water vapor.
When water vapor in the air comes in contact with a surface that already is below freezing point, the water goes from its gas state directly into a solid.
The ice crystals form instantly.
If the air remains calm and the temperature low, the needle-like ice crystals continue to grow.
We might think of hoar frost as frozen dew. Beautiful, sparkling frozen dew.
There are many kinds of frost, but when he was writing a ballet, apparently Glazunov was thinking of this very special and somewhat unusual manifestation of winter and you can hear it glittering in the music.
