Rain

[iroveashe]

So it's raining like crazy around here and I was wondering if there are any pieces which really give you the sensation of rain or were inspired by it. All I can think of is maybe Chopin's Raindrop prelude (which I'm not sure if the nickname for it is really what Chopin had in mind) and Beethoven's storm from the 6th Symphony, but then again I don't know many pieces besides the main stream stuff; any ideas?

[go12_3]

There is a piece I love to play on piano and made an arrangement for violin too.

"Spring Rain,"  by Steven Nehrenberg.  It's very nice piece too.   

[Petter]

I think the 6th Chopin prelude is supposed to emulate rain drops as well.

[pies]

Schnittke Piano Sonata no 1?  Maybe not.

[ryguillian]

So it's raining like crazy around here and I was wondering if there are any pieces which really give you the sensation of rain or were inspired by it. All I can think of is maybe Chopin's Raindrop prelude (which I'm not sure if the nickname for it is really what Chopin had in mind) and Beethoven's storm from the 6th Symphony, but then again I don't know many pieces besides the main stream stuff; any ideas?

A few of Ligeti's études are so piecemeal and pointillist in texture that they make me think of rain; Arc-en-ciel (Fr. for "rainbow" in fact), Galamb borong, En suspens, and Entrelacs stand out in particular as having these qualities of texture that are rain-like (perhaps grain-like to some?) to my ears.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard's recording on Sony's "Ligeti Edition 3" is recommended for all the above mentioned.

Best,

Ry

[ryguillian]

Schnittke Piano Sonata no 1?  Maybe not.

Reverse the order and delete your post!

Best,

Ry

[cygnusdei]

What about Debussy, Jardins sous la pluie from Estampes?

[ahinton]

Admittedly not a work for, or even including, piano, but do nevertheless check out those extraordinary recurring multiple pizzicato figurations in Elliott Carter's Boston Concerto which are directly suggested by rain on the window of the New York apartment that he shared with his wife for almost 60 years of their marriage and in which he still lives today (the piece is dedicated to her and received its première just before her death almost five years ago).

Best,

Alistair

[ryguillian]

Admittedly not a work for, or even including, piano, but do nevertheless check out those extraordinary recurring multiple pizzicato figurations in Elliott Carter's Boston Concerto which are directly suggested by rain on the window of the New York apartment that he shared with his wife for almost 60 years of their marriage and in which he still lives today (the piece is dedicated to her and received its première just before her death almost five years ago).

Best,

Alistair

I can't believe I didn't think of this! Yes, the opening is freakishly rain-like...

Best,

Ry

[ahinton]

I can't believe I didn't think of this! Yes, the opening is freakishly rain-like...

Best,

Ry

Yes but, as I observed, it is not a piano work, so it's an aside in this thread, however fine a work it is in itself and otherwise relevant to the rain issue. Check out (if you are not already aware of it) the reason for its relevance in the piece in terms of Carter's dedication of it to his wife...

Best,

Alistair

[Bob]

It's not for piano, and I forget the composer-title now, but there is a band piece involving audience participation.  Audience members are supposed to "clap" with one, two, and three fingers (I think), slow and fast, so it builds up to a rainstorm and then dies away at the end.  It gives a good impression of rain I thought.

[iroveashe]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I tried listening to them all but I couldn't find Go's.

And about Carter's Boston Concerto, I listened to it and I thought I heard a piano.

[ryguillian]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I tried listening to them all but I couldn't find Go's.

And about Carter's Boston Concerto, I listened to it and I thought I heard a piano.

Thought wrong?

From Boosey & Hawkes's Web page:

Carter, Elliott: Boston Concerto (2002) 19'
for orchestra

Scoring
3(II,III=picc).2.corA.3(III=bcl).3(III=dbn)-4.3.3.1-perc(3):xyl/vib/log dr/4bongos/high SD/susp.cym/wood chime;mar/log dr/4tpl.bl/2cowbells/susp.cym; BD/tom-t/4wdbls/guiro/susp.cym/maracas/med SD-harp-pft-strings