Ending 2016 on some hight notes, I’m thrilled to have my orchestral CD, Dream Vapors, on two “Best of 2016” lists
Jack Sullivan’s picks for the American Record Guide, and Raphael de Acha’s picks for his blog, rafaelmusicnotes.

A Special Thanks to the Musicians for the Premieres and Performances in 2016
Chris Kelts & the Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra, Miolina: Mioi Takeda & Lynn Bechtold, Eva Ingolf, Jane Boxall, Susanne Friedrich, Michael Braudy, Elizabeth A. Baker, and Sylvia Davis Ahramjian.
I am so grateful for your Musical Artistry!

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.

Just received a lovely concert recording of Miolina’s November 10th world premiere of my violin duet, In Tandem in Tokyo Japan. Thank you, Mioi Takeda & Lynn Bechtold for your beautiful playing!

Kind of cool… during my birthday month I can say my solo piano music will be performed at the “White House”… Of course, that’s The Timucua Arts White House in Orlando, FL. Thanks to pianist, Elizabeth A. Baker and a great arts organization, Timucua Arts!
Sunday, October 16th, 7:30, Elizabeth A. Baker will perform my solo piano piece, Conversation Before the Rain. (p.s. on a real size piano)
and
on Livestream

Special note to friends in the Chattanooga, TN area – So pleased that awesome percussionist, Jane Boxall is premiering my piece “Gathering Steam” September 30, 6pm, which was composed with her Tennessee move in mind.
(& another great poster, hats off to the designer Jessi Zazu)

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

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!

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.”

I am pleased to share this special post on PARMA Recordings Blog about the story of connection between my Dream Vapors orchestral album and my artist’s proceeds give back to Alzheimer’s research. I am hoping that every little bit counts.

Rain Worthington’s Contribution to Alzheimer’s Awareness on the PARMA Recordings Blog

What a terrific premiere performance of “Tracing a Dream” (start time 5:55) by the Missouri State University Symphony, conducted by Dr. Christopher Kelts. Thanks so much. I’m excitedly looking forward to being there at the MSU Festival for the repeat performance on March 1st.

I did a Composer on Fire podcast with Garrett Hope that I think came out nicely.
Hope you enjoy it.

Garrett’s mission is to give composers, conductors, and innovative thinkers in the new music field, some opportunities to share insights into the career of music, with the hope that it will be helpful to other composers, students, musicians, etc.

So, for my segment, the basic focus was to talk about paths taken toward the the release of an orchestral album. (Dream Vapors)
It’s also on iTunes

(Also, posting it on the chance that it might be of some interest in terms of sharing it with students.)

& Please consider posting some comments on the CoF & iTunes sites…

Always nice to get feedback. Thanks for listening!
Rain

Wow, what a beautiful Gapplegate review for the orchestral music of Dream Vapors. My heartfelt thanks going out to Grego Edwards!

Dear Grego Applegate Edwards,
My sources of inspiration are so directly rooted in emotions and my processing and translating life experiences, that it is always my hope that the music can, in turn, resonate with listeners in personal ways. Thank you so much for your thoughtful listening, for your openness, and for this wonderful understanding of my music.
Most appreciatively, Rain Worthington