It was snowing Butterflies (2024)

for Piano Trio ± 14 min.

Score: available soon

December 6th, 1833 – The Beagle sailed from the Rio Plata, never again to enter the muddy stream. Our course was directed to Port Desire, on the coast of Patagonia. Before proceeding any further, I will put together a few observations made at sea.

Several times when the ship has been some miles off the mouth of the Plata, and at other times when off the shores of Northern Patagonia, we have been surrounded by insects. One evening, when we were about ten miles from the Bay of San Blas, vast numbers of butterflies, in bands or flocks of countless myriads, extended as far as the eye could range. Even by the aid of a glass it was not possible to see a space free from butterflies. The seamen cried out ‘it was snowing butterflies’, and such in fact was the appearance.

From Charles Darwin diary The Voyage of the Beagle, first published in 1839.

It was snowing butterflies was premiered on April 24th 2025 by the Giocoso Trio (Marta Lopez Castro – violin, Katia Milano – cello and Enrico Clerico – piano) at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. Visuals: Braidon Hobzek. Photo’s below by Alex Schröder 2025