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.