Alpine Lakes is a tone-poem in miniature. The work is programmatic, reflecting the composer’s impressions of Switzerland and New Zealand. Although the music is continuous, there are four major sections in contrasting moods: Lake Brienz, Switzerland (Autumn), Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s Southern Alps (Winter), Lac Leman, Switzerland (Spring), L’Etang aux Grenouilles (Frogpond), Switzerland (Summer).