February is the second month of the calendar year and the last month of winter. Although it is the shortest month of the year, February plays an important role in our perception of time, nature and cultural traditions. We perceive February as a transitional period between the harsh winter and the first tentative warmth of spring.

In terms of climate, February shows great diversity depending on the latitude, which determines the climate zone, and the region. In northern latitudes, this is one of the coldest months: temperatures remain low, the ground is covered with snow, rivers and lakes may be frozen over. At the same time, the further north the region is, the more noticeable the arrival of spring is in February, literally ‘switching on’ our spring mood. The days are getting longer – the difference in daylight hours compared to December is already noticeable, and this gives a special feeling of imminent change. Despite the cold weather, internal processes begin to activate in plants in February – buds swell and mechanisms for preparing for vegetation begin; animals change their behaviour in response to the approaching seasonal changes.

The temporal and climatic characteristics of February form distinctive acoustic images – the music of February, represented by low winter tones (wind, crunching snow). Gradually, they are replaced by light, transparent timbres – major motifs of dripping water and sun glare. Together, these acoustic images create a sense of a gradual transition from winter stagnation to early spring changes.

The melodies of February are both melancholic and soothingly optimistic: they put you in a pensive mood, leaving behind a feeling of cosy anticipation of change, like an old friend promising a quick reunion...

On the cover: Vase ‘Winter Landscape’, Imperial Porcelain Factory. Russia, Saint Petersburg, 1914