Rainphase
2015
INSTRUMENTATION
3333-4331-timp+4perc-2hp-full strings
DURATION
11'
NOTES
2015 NZSO National Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence work. 2016 SOUNZ Contemporary Award.
SCORE
PROGRAMME NOTE:
For quite some time, the beauty and chaos of Wellington rain has inspired me to respond musically. My latest orchestral work ‘Rainphase’ draws on characteristics of water as rain: its shape and shapelessness, transparency and density, energy and calm, and its capacity for reflection in both a literal and emotional sense.
Structurally, it flows through various stages of this “phase” in the water cycle: last rays diminishing as grey clouds form; droplets released; a frenzy of water and wind; all collecting in streams. I’m particularly fascinated by the variation in sound and movement of raindrops depending on the material upon which they fall, and the texture created when these countless individual timbres and rhythms happen all at once.
The ending evokes a memorable moment of obscure beauty that I experienced on a still night last winter. Heavy rain had transformed empty streets into blurry mirrors, reflecting warm glows of street and traffic lights.
Rainphase was written for the 2015 NZSO National Youth Orchestra (Composer-in-Residence) and was awarded the 2016 SOUNZ Contemporary Award.
PERFORMANCES:
May 29–31, 2026
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
Feb 20–21, 2026
Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, conductor Gemma New (Valladolid, Spain)
Sept 20-29, 2024
Pacific Northwest Ballet: Black Wave, conductor Emil de Cou (Seattle, WA, USA)
June 23-24, 2024
Hannover Staatsoper Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (Hannover, Germany)
April 25-28, 2024
Seattle Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (Seattle, WA, USA)
Feb 1–3, 2024
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (Atlanta, GA, USA)
Nov 25, 2022
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New at Costa Hall (Geelong, Australia)
Nov 24, 2022
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New at Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Australia)
Sept 9, 2022
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New for NZSO 75th Jubilee Concert (Wellington, New Zealand)
Jan 16-19, 2020
National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC, USA)
Jan 12, 2020
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (Chapel Hill, NC, USA)
Jan 10-11, 2020
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (Raleigh, NC, USA)
Jan 9, 2020
North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (Wilmington, NC, USA)
Nov 8-10, 2019
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New at the Meyerson Symphony Center (Dallas, TX, USA)
Nov 8, 2019
University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, conductor John Nardolillo, Singletary Center Concert Hall (Lexington, KY, USA)
Jul 5, 2019
Sewanee Symphony, conductor Gemma New, Sewanee Summer Music Festival (Sewanee, TN, USA)
Jun 22, 2019
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conductor Hamish McKeich at Christchurch Town Hall (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Nov 29, 2018
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor Tianyi Lu at Auckland Town Hall (Auckland, New Zealand)
Aug 18, 2017
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conductor Edo de Waart at Auckland Town Hall (Auckland, New Zealand)
Aug 11, 2017
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conductor Edo de Waart at Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington, New Zealand)
May 26, 2017
St Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (St Louis MO, USA) USA Premiere
Feb 11, 2016
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conductor Hamish McKeich at Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington, New Zealand)
Jul 4, 2015
NZSO National Youth Orchestra, conductor José Luis Gomez, Charles Luney Auditorium (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Jul 2, 2015
NZSO National Youth Orchestra, conductor José Luis Gomez, Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington, New Zealand)