In Performance: Rain Coming
Tōru Takemitsu had an especially close relationship with the London Sinfonietta, expressed through some extraordinarily beautiful ensemble scores which are now amongst the composer’s most celebrated works.
Rain Coming is one of a series of works by the composer inspired by the common theme of rain. The complete collection entitled “Waterscape” includes other works, such as Garden Rain, scored for brass ensemble (1974), Rain Tree, composed for vibraphone and two marimbas (1981), and Rain Spell, for flute, clarinet, harp, piano and vibraphone (1982). Rain Coming is a variation of colours on the simple figure played mainly on the alto flute which appears at the beginning of the piece.
Rain Coming was commissioned by the London Sinfonietta with funds provided by the Calouste Gulbekian Foundation and dedicated to the London Sinfonietta.
This film was recorded at the Southbank Centre as part of a new series of films celebrating landmark pieces of contemporary classical music.
Tōru Takemitsu Rain Coming (1982)
Jonathan Berman conductor
London Sinfonietta