Rain

Brian Balmages

General Info

Year: 2008
Duration: c. 4:15
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: FJH Music Company
Cost: Score and Parts - $45.00 | Score Only - $5.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bass Drum
Cymbals (crash and suspended)
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Triangle
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone

Errata

In Score and Parts:

Percussion, Suspended Cymbal and Bass Drum, m. 52: Missing a tremolo on the dotted half note

Program Notes

Rain is a gentle work with a great deal of expressiveness. It paints a picture of a quiet rainfall with distant rolling thunder. The sound of droplets hitting the ground often puts me at ease for a reason I cannot adequately describe. For this reason, I chose to explain my thoughts through music, which has always been a more powerful means of expression for me than words. The melodic and harmonic lines convey the complexity of rain -- the sadness it brings to some, the calmness it brings to others, and its ability to rejuvenate; the soft droplets outside our window that can be so relaxing, yet can also be the cause of a raging river. It is my hope that groups will experience a wide range of emotions as they rehearse and perform this work.

- Program Note by composer

This contemporary lyrical work gets away from the typical ballad written for bands at this level. Instead, thick harmonies and wonderful textures become the canvas of this amazingly artistic work that is quite approachable for young bands, yet very appropriate for mature bands as well. Striking musical moments and subtle effects may actually make this the most memorable piece on your program. Inspirational!

Rain was commissioned by the Virginia District 10 Band Directors for the All District Middle School Symphonic Band.

- Program Note from publisher

Media

Audio CD: Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band (Gyochi Yoshida, conductor) – 2009
Audio CD: Penn High School Symphonic Band (Ray Cramer, conductor) - 2008

State Ratings

Maryland: II

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Southeast Polk High School (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) Symphonic Band (Jacquelyn Meunier, conductor) - 2 March 2021
Panther Creek High School (Cary, N.C.) Wind Ensemble (Emily Krestar, conductor) – 21 November 2019
Eastern Shore Wind Ensemble (Chestertown, Md.) (Charles Thai, conductor) – 19 May 2019
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) North Star Band (Emilie Bertram, conductor) – 30 April 2018
Prior Lake (Minn.) Middle School Honor Band (J. Nick Smith, conductor) – 1 March 2018
Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.) Concert Band (Jennifer Rubin, conductor) – 21 April 2016
Penn High School (Mishawaka, Ind.) Symphonic Band (Ray Cramer, conductor) – 17 December 2008 (2008 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Arabian Dances (Adaptable Band) (2009/2021)
Arith-Metric No. 1 (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Blue Ridge Reel (Adaptable Band) (2013/2020)
Colliding Visions (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
A Little Matrix Music (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

3, 2, 1... (2019)
African Journey (2001)
Always United, Forever Strong (2013)
American Big Top (2018)
Among the Clouds (2004)
Apollo (2008)
Apparitions (2010)
Arabian Dances (2009)
Arabian Dances (Adaptable Band) (2009/2021)
Arctic Wars (2020)
Arith-Metric No. 1 (Adaptable Band) (2020)
The Awakening (2003)
Backstage Pass (2015)
Beyond the Summit (2004)
Blue Ridge Impressions (2001)
Blue Ridge Reel (2013)
Blue Ridge Reel (Adaptable Band) (2013/2020)
Boom and Bust (2018)
Breaking Point (2019)
Breaking Through (2021)
Bright Morning Stars
Bringer of War (2017)
The Broken Marionette (2014)
Call of the Wild (2013)
Camptown Variations (2001)
Centennium (2021)
Central Junction (2011)
Chant and Savage Dance (2005)
Chesapeake Serenade (2002)
Colliding Visions (2010)
Colliding Visions (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
Comet Ride (2006)
Concerto for Two Hands (2015)
Conquest (2003)
Courtly Dance and Procession (2004)
Creatures in the Attic (2010)
Dragonfly (2001)
Eagles Among Us (2017)
Electricity (2009)
Elements (2010)
Enchantment (2013)
Endless Rainbows (2013)
Escapades (2005/2017)
Escape from the Deep (2010)
Etowah (2008)
Evocatio (2014)
Falcon Fanfare (2012)
Fanfare Canzonique (2003)
Fanfare Heroica (2011)
Fanfare and Fireworks (2012)
Fanfare on a Theme of Imagination (2015)
A Festive Fanfare (2017)
A Festive Finale (2019)
Fiesta de los Toros (2017)
Flight (2005)
Flight of the Griffin (2003)
Forever... (2014)
Fusion (2007)
Gateways (2018)
Gettysburg (2002)
Grace (2016)
Gravity Wave (2011)
Groove Music (2013)
Haunted Clocks (2014)
Heart of Gold (2020)
A Hero's Destiny (1999)
Homage to Bharat (2018)
A House Divided (2013)
Hypnotic Fireflies (2012)
Ichabod Fanfare (2011)
Images of Ireland (2004)
In Nature's Glory (2002)
Incantation and Ritual (2004)
Industrial Loops (2017)
Infinite Hope (2018)
Instant Christmas Spirit (2001)
Into the Arctic (2015)
Invictus (2000)
Jingle Bell Tones (2004)
Journal for a Soldier (2010)
Journey By Night (1998)
Joy in All Things (2012)
Joy of Life (2015)
Jungle Dance (2011)
Kilauea (2005)
Kindred Spirits (2009)
Kitsune: The Fox Spirits (2010)
Legacy (2002)
Legend (2001)
Legend of the Drop Bear (2016)
A Light at the End of Forever (2016)
A Little Matrix Music (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Loudoun Praises (2005)
Love and Light (2020)
Lullaby to the Moon (2017)
Majestica (2006)
Marche Diabolique (2014)
Metal (2013)
Metamorphic Dances (2019)
Midnight on Main Street (2009)
Midnight Suite
- Midnight Mission (2005)
- Midnight Sky (2006)
- Midnight Madness (2007)
Miles of Blue (2020)
Miramar Fanfare (2003)
Moscow, 1941 (2006)
Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)
Motion (2006)
Nevermore (2011)
Not Afraid to Dream (2006)
The Nutcracker (as arranger) (2008)
O Mio Babbino Caro (2000)
Of Emperors and Chariots (2000)
Olympia (2005)
Open Space (2014)
Parade of the Jesters (2002)
Pele (2004)
Phasing Thunder (2014)
Pikes Peak (2019)
Pixelated World (2020)
Pride of the Clipper (2020)
Primal Dances (2018)
Proclamation (2000)
Proudly We Hail (as arranger) (1814/2002)
Radiance (2018)
Raging Machines (2008)
Rain (2008)
Renaissance Reimagined (2017)
Reverberations (2009)
Rhythms and Riffs‎ (2008)
Rippling Watercolors (2015)
Rise of the Bladesmith (2012)
Rite of Passage (2000)
Rocky Mountain Romp (2007)
Sapier's Story (2002)
Scenes from an Ocean Voyage (2009)
A Scottish Festival (2021)
Shadow Waltzes (2016)
Shadows Unleashed (2013)
Shenandoah Triptych (2002)
Shrine of the Fallen (2016)
Silence Overwhelmed (2010)
Smithsonian Suite (2003)
A Solitary Wish (2017/2018)
Sound Prisms (2002)
Sparks (2007)
The Spirit of Aloha (2015)
Spirit of the Stallion (2016)
Spontaneous Beings (2017)
Stages (2021)
Stampede (2010)
Star Above, Shine Brightly (2001)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2014)
Starscapes (2007)
Starsplitter Fanfare (2009)
Still (2012)
Summer Dances (2000)
Summer Resounding! (2008)
Summit City (2006)
Sun Cycles (2012)
Super (Em)Powers (2020)
Swirling Prisms (2017)
Symphonic Episodes (2004)
Symphony No. 1 for Brass (1998)
Synthesis (2016)
The Tears of Arizona (2016)
Temple of the Murals (2011)
That Which Binds Us (2015)
Three Celtic Dances (2008)
Thrill Ride (2019)
Through Courageous Eyes (2003)
Through the Mist (2009)
Thunderbolt Fanfare (2019)
To Dance Among the Stars (2020)
Tomorrow's Yesterdays (2011)
Trust in Angels (2017)
Twittering Machine (2017)
A View of the World (2001)
Waves (2007)
Whale Warriors (2009)
When Spirits Soar (2006)
Whispering Winds (2003)
Winged Victory (2007)
Wings to the Mind (2021)
Winter Dances (2001)
Within the Castle Walls (2012)

Resources

Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020