Rainphase (2015)
for orchestra: 3333 / 4331 / timp + 4 perc / 2 hp / full strings
duration: 11'
2015 NZSO National Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence
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.
Media
Dallas Symphony Orchestra & Gemma New
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra & Hamish McKeich
2015 NZSO National Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra & Tianyi Lu
APRA Silver Scrolls – SOUNZ Contemporary Award
Performance History
Fri 25th Nov, 2022
Melbourne Symphony, conductor Gemma New at Costa Hall (Geelong, Australia)
Thu 24th Nov, 2022
Melbourne Symphony, conductor Gemma New at Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Australia)
Sun 19th Jan, 2020
National Symphony, conductor Gemma New at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC)
Sat 18th Jan, 2020
National Symphony, conductor Gemma New at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC)
Thu 16th Jan, 2020
National Symphony, conductor Gemma New at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC)
Sun 12th Jan, 2020
North Carolina Symphony, conductor Gemma New (Chapel Hill, NC)
Sat 11th Jan, 2020
North Carolina Symphony, conductor Gemma New (Raleigh, NC)
Fri 10th Jan, 2020
North Carolina Symphony, conductor Gemma New (Raleigh, NC)
Thu 9th Jan, 2020
North Carolina Symphony, conductor Gemma New (Wilmington, NC)
Sun 10th Nov, 2019
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New at the Meyerson Symphony Center (Dallas, TX)
Sat 9th Nov, 2019
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New at the Meyerson Symphony Center (Dallas, TX)
Fri 8th Nov, 2019
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, conductor Gemma New at the Meyerson Symphony Center (Dallas, TX)
Fri 8th Nov, 2019
University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, conductor John Nardolillo Singletary Center Concert Hall (Lexington, KY)
Fri 5th Jul, 2019
Sewanee Symphony, conductor Gemma New, Sewanee Summer Music Festival (Sewanee, TN)
Sat 22nd Jun, 2019
Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, conductor Hamish McKeich at Christchurch Town Hall (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Thu 29th Nov, 2018
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Tianyi Lu at Auckland Town Hall (Auckland, New Zealand)
Fri 18th Aug, 2017
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conductor Edo de Waart at Auckland Town Hall (Auckland, New Zealand)
Sat 11th Aug, 2017
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conductor Edo de Waart at Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington, New Zealand)
Fri 26th May, 2017
US premiere, St Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, conductor Gemma New (St Louis MO, USA)
Thu 11th Feb, 2016
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conductor Hamish McKeich at Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington, New Zealand)
Sat 4th Jul, 2015
National Youth Orchestra, conductor José Luis Gomez, Charles Luney Auditorium (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Thu 2nd Jul, 2015
National Youth Orchestra, conductor José Luis Gomez, Michael Fowler Centre (Wellington, New Zealand)