Night Rain


alto flute and guitar (1978)


Duration: ca. 8 minutes



The score for Night Rain is in a ‘mobile’ form, and, as such, the material for each of the instruments is arranged so that it can be

performed in any order chosen by the

performers. The work is written in three

‘movements’, and all of the material for

each movement — between 8-10 short

musical fragments for each performer —

must be performed only once, without

repeats, before both performers can

proceed to the next movement. The work

calls for an active interplay between the

two performers, and each performance

will be similar in many respects, but

always differing in its details.


The title for the work comes from an 18th century Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock print, Night Rain in the Yoshiwara, by Ippitsusai

Buncho.