We are excited to continue our collaboration with the New York Women Composers (NYWC). This month, we present a piece by Rain Worthington.
Composer Rain Worthington
Bio:
Following a self-taught path to composition, I am committed to the belief that artistic expression is an elemental impulse of human nature and essential to humanity. I have written works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, duos, solos, and miniatures.
My music has been described in the IAWM Journal as “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.”
I happen to love writing for cello! Hope you enjoy “Then Again.” – Rain Worthington
Featured Work: Then Again for unaccompanied cello
COMPOSITION DETAILS
- Title: Then Again
- Composer: Rain Worthington
- Year of Composition: 2016
- Instrumentation: unaccompanied cello
- Movements: 1
- Duration of Work: c. 5 minutes
- Number of Measures: 97
- Number of pages: Score is 6 pages including the title page; cello part is 2 pages
- Tempo: Andante (quarter note = c. 94)
- Difficulty Level: intermediate – comparable to Suzuki Book 5
- Highest Position Reached: 6th
- Techniques Employed: bass clef, tremolo, glissando, slurs, double stops, 4/4 and 5/4 time signatures
- Publisher: Self-published (SR Worthington/ASCAP)
- Where to Purchase the Score: rainworthington.com
- Cost of Score*: $10
Recordings
Audio only – Cellist Mira Frisch from the “Dancing on Glass” CD release on Albany Records.
Premiere by cellist Susanne Friedrich:
Program Notes
“Then Again” was originally composed in response to a request from cellist Susanne Friedrich to be performed at the Rivers School Conservatory Faculty Recital, Weston, MA. It was subsequently beautifully recorded by UNC Charlotte Faculty cellist, Mira Frisch, for inclusion on the “Dancing on Glass” CD release on Albany Records. – Rain Worthington
Cellist’s Notes
Read Erica’s Cellist’s Notes in the second postcard from October 2020.
Rain Worthington’s Other Works with a Prominent Cello Part
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Unaccompanied Works
- Lingering Thoughts, for unaccompanied cello (2022).
- Mixed Times of Yearning, a miniature for unaccompanied string (2014).
- One Among Minutes, a miniature for unaccompanied cello, bassoon, or bass clarinet (2014).
- Resolves, for unaccompanied cello (2016). Learn more about this piece in Erica Lessie’s postcard from April 2021.
- Steps in the Night, for unaccompanied cello (2020). Read how this piece got its title here.
Duets
- Configurations for two cellos (or cello and double bass) (2017).
- Solace for violin and cello (2018).
Cello and Chamber Orchestra
- Full Circle cello soloist and chamber orchestra (2018).
Links
A Collaboration with the New York Women Composers (NYWC)
The NYWC series at the Cello Museum was created to showcase its members who have composed various pieces for cello, informing cellists seeking new music to add to their repertoire, and helping listeners find new favorites. Rain Worthington was instrumental in establishing this series. Many thanks to her and to the NYWC for this wonderful collaboration.
Read other installments in the series here.
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