Excitingly anticipating the February 11th debut album release by violinist Audrey Wright – THINGS IN PAIRS on Navona Records will include the premiere recording of “Balancing on the Edge of Shadows” commissioned for the album. Check out the beautiful premiere music video exquisitely performed by Audrey and pianist Yundu Wang, with sound responsive lighting created by Geoff Robertson for this video project. Very cool.
“On Curious Reflection” for vibe & piano
The version premiere of “On Curious Reflection” for vibe and piano, performed by Hypercube members: pianist Andrea Lodge and percussionist Chris Graham.
December 15, 2021 at the Greenwich House School of Music, New York City.
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic to premiere Shredding Glass
It’s been a long time coming – now in the year of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, I’m excited that Maestro Ulysses James will conduct the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic in the first North American performances of “Shredding Glass“. Both performances will be on Sunday, December 12, 2021. 2:30 at the Annandale United Methodist Church, Annandale, VA and 7:30 at the historic George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Alexandria, VA. Purchase tickets.
“Shredding Glass” began as an immediate cathartic response to the events and images of September 11, 2001. 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.
Joel Braun performs works for Double Bass October 25th
October 25: Joel Braun performed a concert of works for Double Bass, including DB versions of Jilted Tango & Steps in the Night.
Video features Joel’s gorgeously sensitive performance of this version of “Steps in the Night” for double bass. October 25, 2021 Faculty Recital at the Butler School of Music, University of Texas/Austin.
Zagreb Philharmonic Premiere of “In Passages” on PARMA Live Stage
August 26 PARMA Live Stage: Maestro Vaupotić conducts the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra premiere of “In Passages” with violin soloist Orest Shourgot.
Premiere videos of Within Deep Currents & Turning Tides
Check out the premiere performance videos of works that are the opening & closing works from a “pandemic suite” trio. Within Deep Currents was premiered by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanislav Vavřínek, Conductor. And, Turning Tides was commissioned by the Portland Youth Philharmonic for the Portland Youth Philharmonic Conservatory Orchestra strings.
(FYI, both works are suitable for youth orchestras)
North South’s U.S. premiere of “Within Deep Currents”
North/South Consonance string ensemble performs the North American premiere of “Within Deep Currents in the North/South Season Finale Concert, June 29th Live webcast from St. John’s in the Village, NYC.
Within Deep Currents conveys some of the feelings I have had during this epic time of a global pandemic – a sense of immersion within a flow of time and a feeling of being slowly pulled along by underlying currents, as dynamic forces exert their influences through an interplay of diverse energies.
Composer’s Studio Podcast conversation w Tarik & Anna
I hope you’ll tune in …& out & back in again… to catch some of this Composer’s Studio podcast, from your favorite listening spot. It will be available May 30th forward. (on Facebook, or your favorite sources for podcasts)
Composer Rain Worthington on Composer’s Studio. “Magical Realism, Reflective, Musical Angels“… Great taglines thanks to Tarik!
I loved having the chance to have a conversation with Tarik Ghiradella and Anna Linvill for their Composer’s Studio podcasts!
Tarik writes: “Magical Realism, Reflective, Musical Angels… These are some of the things that come to mind when listening to Worthington’s Music. Join us this Sunday, May 30th as we dive into the deep currents of Worthington’s musical stream, her muse and the emotional force that drives the still-motion of her creativity. Sunday, May 30th at https://www.facebook.com/composersstudio or wherever you get your podcasts.”
Thanks for listening whenever you can!
Transient Canvas premiere of “Message Exchange”
The ever-cool Transient Canvas premiered Message Exchange for bass clarinet & marimba May 7, at the 2021 SCI Online Convention Concert No. 6.
(Amy Advocat, bass clarinet and Matt Sharrock, marimba)
Barbora Kolářová‘s performs An Evening Indigo at TURN UP Festival
May 1st at 1pm EDT: TURN UP Multimedia Festival, violinist Barbora Kolářová‘s gorgeous video performance of An Evening Indigo with video by Marc Webster of Blue on Blue Recording Studio opened the TURN UP Multimedia Festival.
Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra premiere of “Turning Tides”
Check out the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra premiere of my commissioned piece “Turning Tides“
PYP Festival Premiere of “Turning Tides”
I am totally excited to invite you to the Portland Youth Philharmonic New Music Festival Vol. 2: “The Orchestra Strikes Back” Saturday, April 10 at 7pm PT (10pm EDT).
The PYP strings will perform the premiere of my commissioned piece “Turning Tides.”
These young musicians deserve so much respect for preserving with their music studies through the pandemic. Plus, they have been performing brand new works by contemporary composers!
Please show your support with an e-ticket purchase for the PYP New Music Festival Vol. 2 Saturday, April 10 at 7pm PT (10pm EDT). E-tickets are on a “pay-what-you-can” scale. A free e-ticket is also an option. All payments made towards our virtual concerts are considered tax-deductible donations.
Can’t make it at 7:00 PM? Sign-up for an e-ticket for the watch link. After the concert has “aired,” you can watch it on your own time through the same link. Please fill out a ticket form for each email address where you would like to receive the link to watch.
PYPFEST Vol. 2 features 10 new compositions primarily by women and musicians of color (as part of the Youth Orchestra Commissioning Initiative), performed by all of our ensembles.
Commissioned composers include Eduardo Alonso-Crespo, Tatev Amiryan, Jonathan Bingham, Sakari Dixon Vanderveer, Erberk Eryılmaz, Gabriel A. Meneses, Gordon Rencher, Bruce Stark, James Stephenson, and Rain Worthington.
Winner & Finalists for the Title Contest at the Cello Museum!
Composer Rain Worthington’s new composition for unaccompanied cello, and it needed a title. We thought it might be fun for one of our Cello Museum family members to help her name the piece through a contest.
**J. Shea: “Steps in the Night“
Runners-up:
*Susanne Friedrich: “Lonely Voyage“,
*Jacqueline Ridgeway: “Megaliths“,
*Roger Morelló Ros: “In Search of Hope“,
*Chris Robinson: “The Other Side of Tomorrow” & “As Time Evaporates“,
*Sean Penzo: “Shadows Dance“,
*Kevin Akin: “Night Ramble“,
*Corbin Keep: “Nectere“,
*Judy Lemke: “I Shall Not Go Gently“
“Within Deep Currents” release March 12th on SPARKS Vol II
March 12 Official Release: Within Deep Currents for string orchestra on SPARKS Vol 2, Navona Records album. (Listen on YouTube)
“Within Deep Currents” conveys some of the feelings I have had during this epic time of a global pandemic – a sense of immersion within a flow of time and a feeling of being slowly pulled along by underlying currents, as dynamic forces exert their influences through an interplay of diverse energies. – RW
Recorded by the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, Conductor, Stanislav Vavřínek.
World Premiere 2020: Moravian Philharmonic (Moravská filharmonie Olomouc), with conductor Stanislav Vavřínek, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Bassist Joel Braun performs “BaDaBaDaDa”
I am honored that bassist Joel Braun selected my piece BaDaBaDaDa for his presentation at the Texas Music Educators Association 2021 Convention. Joel will be presenting an excerpt, but also generously made this performance video of the full piece. I love the sense of lyricism and sensitivity of dynamics he brought to the work. Plus, I’m very grateful that he shared his thoughts on the technical aspects of the work.
In my presentation I’m giving it as an example of an intermediate level piece… so maybe a 4 or 5 out of 10 on a scale? Note-wise it’s not terribly difficult. The end of the first page and second page offer some challenges because it requires covering a little more space with the intervals in the longer lyrical lines. There are also intonation challenges since it leaves the bass so naked and there’s enough repetition that if it’s not the same for each time it’s very noticeable. Otherwise, most of the challenges are musical like you mentioned – dynamic contrasts, timing/tempo, etc. So I think an intermediate player could handle it but also be challenged and pushed musically.
Belated Thanks! to the musicians for their 2019 performances
In the past, I have made it a personal tradition to send out a Thank You to the musicians who performed my works during the year. But in this surreal year of 2020, when time seems to warp and nothing has been normal, my traditional thanks got overlooked. Now, as live performances seem more precious than ever, I want to send a much belated Thanks.
performances and premieres of my music in 2019.
From Wisconsin to D.C. to New York…
Thanks to these wonderfully gifted musicians
I am so grateful for their skill, sensitivity, and artistry!
Orquestra Sinfônica de Limeira, Rodrigo Müller, conductor, world premiere “Shredding Glass” Teatro Victoria, as part of the “VI Encontro Internacional de Cordas” Limeira, Brazil;
Kinga Augustyn, violin, “An Evening Indigo” & “Frost Vapors“, Wroclaw Old Town Hall, Poland; Kosciuszko Foundation, Washington D.C.; Queens New Music Festival, & Mezzrow, NYC;
Erëmira Çitaku, flute & Cagatay Akyol, harp, world premiere “Imagined Tango” Flute Sound Festival, National Library of Kosovo, Prishtinë, Kosovë;
Jane Boxall, marimba, “Gathering Steam” KM Music Conservatory, Tamil Nadu, India;
2Flutes: Pamela Sklar & Laura Falzon, “Duets for a Duo” “New York Tapestries” CD Release Party & Concert, The Tank, NYC;
Sergio de Oliveria, contrabass, “BaDaBaDaDa” Palacete de Levy, in the “VI Encontro Internacional de Cordas” Limeira, Brazil;
Calvin Wiersman & Conrad Harris, violins, “Night Stream” Locrian Chamber Players, Riverside Church, NYC;
eGALitarian Brass, “Only to Ask” Festival of Women Composers, Spectrum, Brooklyn NY;
Anna Maria Manalo, violin, “An Evening Indigo” Friday Noon Musicales, First Unitarian Meeting House, Madison, WI;
Géraldine Fastré, clarinet & Bruno Ispiola, cello, “A Moment’s Impression” Osmose Intermezzo concert, Bruxelles, Belgium
for the interview opportunities. It was such a pleasure!
radio broadcast & webcast WRUU 107.5 Savannah, GA
David Osenberg, Producer & Host “Cadenza”
radio broadcast & webcast, WWFM –The Classical Network
“Shadows of the Wind” on Navona Records PRISMA Vol 4
PRISMA Vol 4 release of Shadows of the Wind recorded by the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra with Stanislav Vavřínek conductor and Ivo Fišer cello.
Program note: The inspiration for this work came to me one night while listening to the sounds of a windstorm, as the wind increased and diminished in cycles, the room was filled with the changing patterns cast by the movements of branches and leaves. Unlike many of my works that tie in more specifically to a memory, dream or emotional response to an experience, this work has a broader wash of mystery as if looking out from a perspective of a high place as shadows of time and memories travel in waves over a vast emotional landscape below. – RW
(Youtube trailer includes a very brief excerpt of the opening at 4:19)
“Music is not a Competitive Sport” with Rain Worthington
I had a totally cool time connecting with up-and-coming conductors Jeremy D. Cuebas and Luke Lyons-Hunt for this Podium Time Podcast conversation. Jeremy and Luke are great and we touched on a bunch of interesting topics from a “composer’s perspective” that I hope you’ll enjoy!
Plus this comes at an amazingly synchronistic time with…
a PARMA Live Stage performance on Thursday 8/13 of my string orchestra piece, “Within Deep Currents”
and
the Navona release “PRISMA Vol 4” on Friday 8/14 with a the orchestral recording of “Shadows of the Wind”
(Yep, when it rains, sometimes… it can pour, so I am happily grateful for this celebratory week for my music!)
Moravian Philharmonic performs “Within Deep Currents”
PARMA Live Stage presented the first-ever live performance by the Moravian Philharmonic of my newest piece, hot off the music press Within Deep Currents.
This work was just recorded in June in the Czech Republic for an upcoming 2020 release. Since orchestra sessions, for economic practicalities, are recorded in short segments which are then edited together to form the final piece for release, this is an exciting first for me to be able to hear the full piece played through!
P.S. It’s a short 6 & 1/2 minutes that conveys some of the feelings I have had during this epic time of a global pandemic – a sense of immersion within a flow of time and a feeling of being slowly pulled along by underlying currents, as dynamic forces exert their influences through an interplay of diverse energies.
Plus, it’s such a heartwarming pleasure to watch orchestral musicians playing together again!
Interview by Clem Errol Pearson at the 2020 TUTTI Festival
There was something really sweet about having the chance to engage in this conversation with Clem Errol Pearson during the 2020 TUTTI Festival at Denison University. (Who knew that it would be one of the last opportunities in quite a long while to be able to have a casual conversation in a bustling local coffee shop?) For brevity, this is Clem’s shorter edited version of the whole conversation, but a very nice presentation of some of the topics we talked about… sources of compositional inspiration, economic changes and shifts in music listening habits that have epically affected the field of contemporary classical music.
Clem Errol Pearson is a very cool Violinist/Composer/Conductor in his own right | Denison University class of 2020
Hope you enjoy it.
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