Selim Gustav Adolf Palmgren (Feb. 16, 1878 - Dec. 13, 1951) was a Finnish composer, conductor, and pianist. He studied at the Helsinki Conservatory in Helsinki from 1895 to 1899, then continued his piano studies in Berlin. He conducted several orchestras and music societies in Finland, and had successful performances as a pianist in Finland and Scandanavia. In 1921 he moved to the United States to teach at the Eastman School of Music, and from 1936 - 1951, he was Professor of Harmony and Composition at the Sibelius Academy. 

As a composer, Palmgren focused on his own instrument, the piano. Snowflakes is the second movement of his 3 Piano Pieces, Op. 57, and is a delicate and sparkling movement. His writing is Romantic with hints towards Impressionism. The right hand part moves in a continuous up and down eight note theme, sometimes as a single note, other times as two. The simple melody is sweet and peaceful, and the piece invokes the feeling of delicate snow falling on a dark, silent night.

Sadly, we couldn't find any recordings of this lovely work---we hope that changes soon!