Weather The Storm

For Wind Ensemble

Weather The Storm is a musical depiction inspired by the summer monsoon storms that rain upon the Arizona Sonoran desert daily throughout the summer months.  The work is essentially told in 4 musical sections, but I did not write them in separate movements on purpose as the storm is meant to smoothly flow in its progression.

The opening aleatoric section is meant to replicate the distant but approaching sound of light rainfall and wind.  Solo trumpet and french horn leads into the grandiose fanfare setting the stage for the grand Sonoran desert where these monsoon storms take place on a daily basis like clockwork.  As the raindrops begin to fall harder and harder (letter D), the rain builds a kinetic energy.  This constitutes the end of the first section.  

Letter H signals the beginning of the second section.  The storm takes on a new, darker tone and becomes much more violent and destructive.  

Letter P is the beginning of the third section.  This is the calm period after the storms, typically every night around midnight.  The flash flood waters begin to recede and there is just peaceful calmness that soon give way to an early morning vibrance.  From so much destruction hours before comes new life.  The desert plants begin to come alive in the morning to a beautiful bloom.  

Letter U is the beginning of the final section of the piece.  The Arizona desert is beautiful and majestic.  If one could just fly around the sunny and cloudless blue skies and see all of the life that has been brought to bear from all of the rains the night before, they would feel the exhilaration in this section.  The piece ends where it began, with its majestic fanfare, but now somewhat evolved and ready to begin the storm cycle all over again.  

It is the circle of life. Out of much power and destruction, often comes beauty and the replenishment of life.  This is the story of Weather The Storm.

Instrumentation / Technical Details:

  • Bb Trumpet 1 (2 players)

  • Bb Trumpet 2 & 3

  • French Horn 1, 2, 3, 4

  • Tenor Trombone 1 & 2

  • Bass Trombone

  • Euphonium 1 & 2

  • Tuba

  • Piano / Celeste

  • Harp

  • 6 Percussion                                                          {Timpani, Snare Drum, Large Bass Drum, Sus Cymbal, Large Piatti, Large Taiko Drum (or similar), Large Thunder Drum, Wind Machine, Patio Wind Chime, Triangle, Rainsticks, Large Shekere, Tambourine, Glockenspiel, Tubular Bells, Xylophone, Marimba}

  • Piccolo

  • Flute

  • Oboe 1

  • Oboe 2 / Eng Horn

  • Bb Clarinet 1 & 2

  • Bb Bass Clarinet

  • Bb Contra Bass Clarinet

  • Eb Alto Saxophone 1 & 2

  • Bb Tenor Saxophone

  • Eb Baritone Saxophone

  • Bassoon 1 & 2

  • Contra Bassoon

 

 

 

 

Purchase or Rent:

You must sign a return a rental agreement to info@brianralston.com before rental parts will be sent out.  As soon as the signed agreement is received, parts will be sent out within 10 business days.  If you or your institution wishes to pay via check or purchase order, contact Brian via the web form and he will work with you on those details.  

Media:

General Info:

Year (s) Completed:  2023

Duration:  9 min  17 sec

Premieres:

NOT YET PERFORMED