The coming of the storm
Description
The Coming of the Storm is an extended work composed for symphony orchestra with double winds (two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, and two bassoons), 4 French horns, three trumpets, two trombones, one bass trombone, one tuba, three percussionists (one of whom is a timpanist), and strings. The string section is of a flexible size, as the same piece may be performed in the same hall by a different number of string players, but usually there are about twelve first violins, twelve second violins, ten violas, eight cellos, and two to four double basses. The piece has a high level of difficulty and is intended to be performed by a professional orchestra. Begun in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, this piece sonically tells the story of a hurricane and imitates the unnatural, beautiful, and terrifying sounds that these storms produce. The writing of this piece has allowed me to explore the machinations of the orchestra as well as the colorations and timbres of different instruments and their combinations while creating a work of art that exists as a part of the American musical canon.