We are excited to continue our collaboration with the New York Women Composers (NYWC). This month, we present a piece by Rain Worthington.
Rain Worthington. Photo courtesy 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!” – Rain Worthington
Featured Work: Lingering Thoughts for cello
COMPOSITION DETAILS
- Title: Lingering Thoughts
- Composer: Rain Worthington
- Year of Composition: 2022
- Instrumentation: unaccompanied cello
- Movements: 1
- Duration of Work: ~3:10
- Number of Measures: 56
- Number of pages: 2 (3 with the title page)
- Tempo: Andante a placere (c. quarter = 88) (has an emotional sense of adagio)
- Difficulty Level: accessible for high intermediate students, but rewarding for advanced and professional cellists
- Highest Position Reached: 5th position
- Techniques Employed: glissandos and double-stop glissandos; triplets; dynamic and tempo shifts; rubato passages; meter shifts
- Publisher: SR Worthington (ASCAP)
- Where to Purchase the Score: rainworthington.com
- Cost of Score*: $5 (digital score)
Recording
Listen on SoundCloud.
Note: The audio link for this piece is a MIDI realization. The work has not yet been premiered. Please let us know if you record it.
You may request a recording by contacting Rain directly via email.
Program Notes
“As might be guessed from looking at my catalog of works, I love composing for cello!
I feel a natural affinity with the range of the cello, which enables me to delve into emotions on a primal level when writing for cello.
My compositions often arise from emotional reflections on fleeting moments in life that are sometimes difficult to verbally articulate. For me, “Lingering Thoughts” is a reflection on a vague sense of being drawn into returning or lingering feelings that remain yet unresolved.” – Rain Worthington
Rain Worthington’s Other Works with a Prominent Cello Part
Unaccompanied Works
- Then Again, for unaccompanied cello. Learn more about this piece in Erica Lessie’s postcard from December 2024.
- 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.
- Afternoon Reflections – solo low string, for cello or double bass
Duets
- Configurations, for two cellos (or cello and double bass) (2017).
- Solace, for violin and cello (2018).
Cello and Chamber Orchestra
- Full Circle, for cello soloist and chamber orchestra (2018).
How to Follow, Support, and Contact Rain Worthington
-
- Website
- SoundCloud
- YouTube: @RainWorthington_composer
- Instagram: @rainworthington_composerartist
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 works 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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*Prices are accurate at the time of article publication, but the Cello Museum cannot take responsibility for subsequent price changes.
