Symphony No. V: Elements - II. Rain in D♭

Grade 5
for concert band
by Julie Giroux

Commissioned by Daniel J. Van Abs for The Eastern Wind Symphony,
Princeton, New Jersey, Todd Nichols, Conductor

PROGRAM NOTES

   The opening of the second movement is my attempt at rain. Literally. The orchestration has the woodwinds and sparse melodic percussion playing notes randomly,* both in rhythm and pitch, representing individual rain drops. Solo instruments are added to the random rain and over the course of 37 measures the entire wind ensemble is added. In measure 38, the raindrops become no longer random, but musically part of each chord in passing. The whole opening section represents a light, random rain. The middle section of Rain features 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon and piano. It is a representation of the melancholy that comes with rain. The music then builds into a huge downpour, represented by the movement’s main theme. It is big and full, but every once in a while, one measure drops down considerably in both volume and personnel which represents the contrast between looking out at a downpour or staring at individual rain drops on the ground or in your hand

    The middle main theme winds down, dropping down in orchestration to a twinkling magical piano and melodic percussion section. This represents the miracle of life water gives to all living things on Earth, without which, life would not survive. This section then grows into a recap of the main theme which gradually reduces to a light, slumber-inviting drizzle ending the movement.

*The randomness of raindrops is written out to insure a distribution of the drops without leaving that distribution to chance by simply providing the written instruction play randomly.

- J.G.

MP 99159
Duration: 9:30
Score & Parts: $140.00
Score only: $30.00

I. Sun in C
II. Rain in D♭
III. Wind in E♭