Programme Notes
Australia is a dry continent -and at time of writing,we are experiencing a severe drought,not long after another one a year or so previously.The airwaves are filled with images of hardship combined with ideas for the preservation of that most precious resource,water.

Waiting for Rain is constructed in three main sections.The first features a plaintive yet hopeful recorder solo placed amongst sudden but brief showers of water and isolated raindrops.

The second section is a melody placed around a repeated pattern fitting the words “waiting for rain ”.This repeated pattern,played by the alto metallophones,seems never to end,broken only by the third section,which is a storm,but which is all too brief,unfortunately not breaking the drought to any significant degree.

It is only at the very end of the work that perhaps the rain really does arrive,hitting a tin roof.

The duration of Waiting for Rain is approximately 8 minutes.It was commissioned by the NSW Orff Schulwerk Association for premiere performance at the Fourteenth Conference of the the Australian National Council of Orff Schulwerk.

Instrumentation:

Tenor Recorder

Soprano Glock

Soprano Xylophone
Alto Xylophone (2 parts)
Bass Xylophone

Soprano Metallophone
Alto Metallophone
Bass Metallophone

Timpani (A,D,C)
Bass Drum
Suspended Cymbal
2 Drums (e.g.bongos)

Optional:woodblocks for the pitched percussion players in the event that they do not want to hit the sides of their nstruments.

Each player is required to play a plastic bottle slightly filled with water,as well as a pair of river stones that make a good sound when tapped together.