As One Listens to the Rain
Grade: 5
Duration: 6'30"
Composed October - November, 2011 in Los Angeles
Premiere Performance: Dec. 8, 2012 - IUP Symphony Band, Dr. Jason Worzbyt conducting
Published by Boosey & Hawkes Windependence Series | Available from J.W. Pepper, BandMusicDirect, and many other fine retailers
Duration: 6'30"
Composed October - November, 2011 in Los Angeles
Premiere Performance: Dec. 8, 2012 - IUP Symphony Band, Dr. Jason Worzbyt conducting
Published by Boosey & Hawkes Windependence Series | Available from J.W. Pepper, BandMusicDirect, and many other fine retailers
As One Listens to the Rain is a marriage of two distinct musical ideas. The first, a solitary, solemn melody, is introduced in the trumpet and cloaked in an aura of slowly shifting, transparent harmonies. This idea soon gives way to flowing lines and falling gestures which serve to invoke an image of cascading rainfall. A hymn-like interlude provides a brief respite before the return of the rain which, in this final form, spins and tumbles over itself.
The title is taken from a poem by Octavio Paz, which captures the same duality that is the impetus for the music:
The title is taken from a poem by Octavio Paz, which captures the same duality that is the impetus for the music:
Listen to me as one listens to the rain,
not attentive, not distracted,
light footsteps, thin drizzle,
water that is air, air that is time,
the day is still leaving,
the night has yet to arrive,
figurations of mist
at the turn of the corner,
figurations of time
at the bend in this pause,
listen to me as one listens to the rain
Octavio Paz, A Tree Within (1988)
not attentive, not distracted,
light footsteps, thin drizzle,
water that is air, air that is time,
the day is still leaving,
the night has yet to arrive,
figurations of mist
at the turn of the corner,
figurations of time
at the bend in this pause,
listen to me as one listens to the rain
Octavio Paz, A Tree Within (1988)
Instrumentation
Flutes 1.2.3
Oboe
Clarinets in B-flat 1.2.3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophones 1.2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bassoon
Horns in F 1.2.3.4
Trumpets in B-flat 1.2.3
Tenor Trombones 1.2
Bass Trombone
Euphoniums
Tubas
Harp (optional)
Timpani
Percussion 1 - Chimes, Crotales, Suspended Cymbal, Tam-tam, Wind Chimes
Percussion 2 - Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone
Percussion 3 - Bass Drum, Glockenspiel
Flutes 1.2.3
Oboe
Clarinets in B-flat 1.2.3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophones 1.2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bassoon
Horns in F 1.2.3.4
Trumpets in B-flat 1.2.3
Tenor Trombones 1.2
Bass Trombone
Euphoniums
Tubas
Harp (optional)
Timpani
Percussion 1 - Chimes, Crotales, Suspended Cymbal, Tam-tam, Wind Chimes
Percussion 2 - Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone
Percussion 3 - Bass Drum, Glockenspiel