Piano Trio “Winterschrei”, Op. 35 is a journey of salvation. The first few falling grace notes in the piano are cold raindrops in winter. Directly after, cello and violin intensify the precipitation until the furioso theme unleashes the frantic winter wind. The texture then gets thinner, hinting at the temperature dropping as the dotted figures of rain motif mix with segments of snow motif. The tempo slows down once again, and a choral interlude signals that snowflakes are beginning to fall.

The snow theme eventually unravels in Andante sostenuto in E minor with shivering violin tremolos and harp-like piano arpeggios. The snow builds up to a blizzard and then quiets down for the fugue upon finding shelter in the blizzard, resolving in E major. The falling motif returns in violin pizzicato as we find refuge beside a fireplace in a warm, cozy hut. This time, it is not the raindrop, but the teardrop that finds salvation after a long voyage.