Rain Worthington

Cellist, Carmine Miranda’s beautiful rendition of “Resolves”


Listening to this demo recording of Resolves by cellist, Carmine Miranda – I was struck by how similar the relationship between composer and musician is to the relationship between playwright and actor. Miranda – I was struck by how similar the relationship between composer and musician is to the relationship between playwright and actor.
It is always so amazing after writing a piece, to then have a great performer bring the work to life with their passion, masterful artistry and skill.
Carmine plays this piece so soulfully and beautifully.

Violinist Moonkyung Lee’s performance of “Jilted Tango”

Just wanted to share this lovely concert video of Moonkyung Lee’s performance of “Jilted Tango” at the Seoul Art Center. She’s such an exquisitely skilled violinist. She’s also recording this piece for her next PARMA Recordings release. Can’t wait… and who knows… keeping fingers crossed that PARMA may possibility consider making another fabulous tango dance video to go with Moonkyung’s recording. Wouldn’t that be so cool?!

World Premiere of “In Passages”


Not quality visuals, but… The music comes through in this exquisitely soulful world premiere performance of “In Passages” by violinist, Pam Davis as soloist with the Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor, Christopher Kelts.

MSU Symphony World Premiere of “In Passages” – March 24


Just around the time corner… Friday, March 24th
I’d like to invite you to the world premiere of my orchestral work “In Passages” – for violin soloist and string orchestra by the Missouri State University Symphony with Conductor Christopher Kelts and soloist, Pamela Davis.

The evening promises to be a fabulous concert all-round under the direction of Conductor Christopher Kelts with the MSU Symphony Orchestra and soloist, Pamela Davis, premiering my work, “In Passages” and featured performances by the student musicians winners for the Aria and Concerto competition categories! – Aiyana Williams, soprano and Thomas Sanders, clarinet.

It’s always nice to connect with music colleagues – So, if you can go, please be sure to say hello!
Missouri State University, Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, 525 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65897

P.S. Last year Maestro Kelts and the MSU Symphony delivered an awesome premiere of “Tracing a Dream”

2nd Animation of Classical Discoveries Interview

I just posted the second animated segment of the Classical Discoveries broadcast interview for my Dream Vapors CD. This part of the interview is about the emotional inspirations of my music and the concept of “dream vapors.”

The short interview segment (4’) concludes with PARMA Recordings‘ track of Tracing a Dream performed by the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor, Ovidiu Marinescu.

The interview was animated by Sabrina Pena Young.
Young is a lecturer and writer on music technology, social media, online collaboration, marketing, and contemporary music, who enjoys combining futuristic fantasy with technology and creating innovative hybrid works that have never been seen before. Her animated opera Libertaria: The Virtual Opera, is the world’s first feature length machinima opera.

Marvin Rosen is the host and producer of the weekly radio program Classical Discoveries on WPRB 103.3FM, Princeton, NJ. This unique radio program is devoted to little known repertoire of all musical periods, with a special mission to expose beautiful, little-known 20th and 21st-century music to audiences.

IAWM Journal Review of Dream Vapors CD

Yes, very cool review by Dr. Anne Neikirk for the IAWM 2016 Fall Journal. As I am self-taught, I am so appreciative to have this kind of in-depth examination of my music from such an insightful and knowledgeable musical perspective. My favorite quote excerpt is:

Worthington’s orchestral writing in Dream Vapors takes us inside the sometimes illogical world of dreams and memories and uses a fusion of styles—ancient, medieval sounds expressed via modality and open sonorities, modernist minimalist ostinato, and classical approaches to basic ideas — to capture components of the human experience.

Full review.

Composing “Shredding Glass”

(This image was taken from a Twitter thread, so I'm sorry that I don't know how to credit the photographer.)

(This image was taken from a Twitter thread, so I’m sorry that I don’t know how to credit the photographer.)

Shredding Glass began as an immediate cathartic response to the events and images of September 11, 2001.
It was not until several years had passed that I was able to reconcile some moments of private transcendence into my recollections and thus complete the work.
To me this piece represents the essence of an emotional remembrance of how a sense of time and timelessness unfolded while coping with the realization, heartbreak and impact of this catastrophic event.
I believe the music is ultimately about transcendence and hope that and that it may touch the hearts of others who have similarly experienced the devastating consequences of politically motivated aggressions and tragedies.

This music is in a world of its own. It has an original voice and is quite specific in what it has to say. …This is a very beautiful work, which weaves intricate patterns of sound in an hallucinogenic haze. It’s beautifully orchestrated, the material is well handled and it creates a dreamscape of exquisite allure. There are no heroes here, just we impotent onlookers. – Bob Briggs, MusicWeb-International

Composer-grown organic garlic

garlic harvest 2016
An abundant harvest of garlic. Hmm, a marketing niche… “composer-grown organic garlic”?! (& basil too, so gearing into pesto-making mode!)… & waiting to hear more dates & details for some upcoming premieres!

American Record Guide Review

A wonderful new review of Dream Vapors by Jack Sullivan in the July/August issue of American Record Guide is beautifully written and includes these powerful lines as a quote from poet, Theodore Roethke.

There is a deep interiority to this music, which seems directly in touch with a private dreamworld
that the composer makes universal. ‘Tracing a Dream’, which flies into the listener’s imagination like
a dark bird, reminds me of the poet Theodore Roethke’s ‘Night Crow: “Over the gulfs of dream/Flew
a tremendous bird/Further and further away/ Into a moonless black/ Deep in the brain, far back.”