Shades of Rain

Angela Elizabeth Slater (b.1989): Shades of Rain (2019)for piano trio 

Cloudburst – Petrichor

Shades of Rainhas been written for the Prism piano trio as a commission for the Illuminate Women’s Music 2019 Season I US-UK touring concert series. The piece explores the imagery and textures of different types of rain. The piece functions as though it is two movements happening within the same piece: Cloudburstand Petrichor. Cloudburst refers to an extreme amount of precipitation in a short period of time often accompanied by hail and thunderstorms. The piece reflects this with dramatic driving rhythms and strident dramatic chords from the piano. These spells of extreme dramatic rain and musical descents are interrupted by music representing Petrichor. ‘Petrichor’ is the pleasant aroma that occurs after rain has fallen for the first time after a dry period. These parts of the music are explored through expansive and reflective lyrical lines giving relief to the dramatic movements and figures found in the Cloudburst sections The Illuminate Women’s Music 2019 Season I concert series and commissions is supported by the PRS Open Fund for organisations and Ambache Charitable Foundation.

© Angela Elizabeth Slater 2019