There Will Come Soft Rains (2017-2019)

a multi-movement, multimedia work for percussion, strings, voices, electronics, and video

I. Prologue - Wupatki: Houses of the Enemies (2018) for chamber ensemble
II. There Will Come Soft Rains for percussion and spoken voice
III. Water Trails of the Ceriso & 57 Buzzards (2018) for divided string quartet and spoken voice
IV. 2026 (2018) for percussion quartet and recorded spoken-voice
V. Postlude - Lost Horse Mine Lament (2018) for percussion quartet, string quartet, and piano (and optional voice)

Commission/Premiere: Commissioned by the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, Cory Hills, percussion and spoken voice, Ashley Bathgate, cello, Maggie Parkins, cello, Eclipse String Quartet, Lyris Quartet, Formalist Quartet, Vicky Ray, piano, Aron Kallay, piano, with video by Quintan Ana Wikswo.

I. Prologue- Wupatki: Houses of the Enemies

II. There Will Come Soft Rains for solo percussion

III. Water Trails / IV. 57 Buzzards

V. 2026

VI. Postlude - Lost Horse Mine Lament

Program Notes

This multimedia work by composer Pamela Madsen will feature videos of percussionists, a string quartet, an orchestra, a choir, and electronic musicians. Commissioned by Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, percussionist Cory Hills, cellists Ashley Bathgate and Maggie Parkins, Eclipse String Quartet, and the CSUF Symphony Orchestra and University Singers, the work will weave a narrative reflecting on the need for water and the meaning of rain. The work will be presented at the CSUF New Music Festival; Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach, California for World Water Day; CSU Desert Studies Center in Zzyzx, in the Mojave National Preserve, California; and at other venues in Los Angeles, New York City, and Orange County, California.

Rental Info

Specific movements may be individual purchased and performed. To inquire about performing the entire work, please contact us for a rental quote.

Press/Awards

Composer-in-residence at Crystal Cove State Park and CSU Desert Studies Center, ZZYZX, Mojave Desert Preserve,

Awarded NEA Arts Works Award

New Music USA