Come Down Rain
General Info
Year: 2018
Duration: c. 4:45
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $70.00 | Score Only - $8.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Bongos
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Rainstick
- Shakers
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Thunder Sheet
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Come Down Rain is a setting of an Arabic folk song by the same name. The text describes a rainstorm followed by a harvest celebration. This narrative guides the structure of the piece. It begins quietly, with atmospheric rain sounds. Indeterminate percussion effects utilize a Hijaz Kar scale to paint a rainstorm that slowly increases in intensity. A thunder sheet and brass melody signal the storm’s arrival. The slow music builds to a head before it is replaced by a dance-like setting of the folk song. The folk song is first stated in its entirety by the piccolo, bass clarinet, and bassoon at measure 31. The tune is taken through multiple variations and key centers until the storm arrives for a recapitulation in the original key at measure 99. From there, the piece steadily builds to the end.
Come Down Rain was commissioned by, and is dedicated to, the Lamar Middle School Band and their director, James Hairston, in honor of their performance at the 2017 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
- Program Note from Lamar Middle School Symphonic Winds concert program, 20 December 2017
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Lamar Middle School & Fine Arts Academy (Austin, Tex.) Symphonic Winds (James Hairston, conductor) - 20 December 2017 (2017 Midwest Clinic)
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Across the Serengeti (2016)
- And Sail Away (2017)
- Bold
- Bravado Tango (2015)
- Cassini's Dive (2021)
- Christus Factus Est (as transcriber) (1884/2018)
- Circle of Wagons (2013)
- Come Down Rain (2018)
- Crowns of Glory (2020)
- Dance Slav (2018)
- Everybody Sang (2019)
- Foiled Again! (2014)
- Laniakea (2016)
- Leading Light (2022)
- Legacy Fanfare (2016)
- Monumental Triumph
- Moon Over Half Dome (2019/2021)
- On the Kerry Shore (2017)
- On the Wing (2014)
- Palo Duro Sunrise (2015)
- Passage of Arms (2013)
- Queen Anne’s Revenge (2013)
- Ruins of Tulum (2013)
- Scenes from the American West (2018)
- Solstice Dance (2015)
- The Spirit of Cashel (2019)
- Spellbound (2016)
- A Swashbuckling Christmas (2017)
- Symphony No.1 (2022)
- ¡Viva! (2017)
- Wellspring (2020)
- Whirling Novas (2015)
Resources
- Jack Wilds Music Accessed 2 August 2021
- Perusal score