Winter Winds attempts to paint a bleak and harsh setting of the text in its opening passage, essentially evoking the harshness of winter. As the text becomes more uplifting and hopeful, the music reflects this. Winter Winds explores several contemporary techniques including Sprechstimme and wind noises. Several aleatoric elements are included, and the ending of the work is a retrograde of the beginning. Winter Winds attains a modern sound, but with strong Neo-Romantic elements.