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Raindrops by Naoya Wada is a groovy, lighthearted, pop-style chamber ensemble piece that features 3 woodwinds and a 4.3-octave (low A) marimba. In the piece, the marimba part functions like a drumset, keeping the overall rhythmic foundation steady and driving the piece forward. On top of this, the woodwinds layer in their respective song-like melodies to form a harmonious cohesion. Although the piece is scored for flute, oboe, and clarinet, alternate parts are included so that the flute part can be played by an oboe or clarinet, the oboe part can be substituted with a clarinet, and the clarinet part may be played by an alto saxophone or English horn.
Raindrops comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• Flute (alternate part for oboe or Bb clarinet)
• Oboe (alternate part for Bb clarinet)
• Bb Clarinet (alternate part for Eb alto saxophone or English horn in F)
• Marimba—low A (playable by one or two players and includes options for 4.5-octave, low F instrument)
Composer Naoya Wada describes “Raindrops” as a pop-style piece that (as the title indicates) evokes a musical image of raindrops. The marimba part is written for a low-A instrument, and the score contains optional notes for a low-F instrument. The composer also gives the options of one percussionist performing the part with four mallets or two performers using two mallets each. Additionally, Wada provides the following substitutions for the three woodwind instruments: flute (or oboe, B-flat clarinet), oboe (or B-flat clarinet), B-flat clarinet (or E-flat alto saxophone, English Horn in F). Tapspace has produced a clear and professional product, with a setup diagram, instructions, and downloadable parts and audio files.
Musically, “Raindrops” is a tonal, pleasant, poppy piece in ABA form. The marimba often accompanies the woodwind melodies, but it has a few spotlight moments of melodic and improvisatory material. If played by one person, the marimba part is at an intermediate level, with double stops, rotation strokes, rolls (including one-handed), and hand-to-hand independence making up the bulk of the technical components. If played by two performers, the top marimba part, with its fast moving sixteenth notes and periodic melodic role, is more difficult than the bottom. The woodwind parts are also at an intermediate level, making “Raindrops” an ideal work for an undergraduate chamber performance.
—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 6, December 2020
Raindrops by Naoya Wada is a groovy, lighthearted, pop-style chamber ensemble piece that features 3 woodwinds and a 4.3-octave (low A) marimba. In the piece, the marimba part functions like a drumset, keeping the overall rhythmic foundation steady and driving the piece forward. On top of this, the woodwinds layer in their respective song-like melodies to form a harmonious cohesion. Although the piece is scored for flute, oboe, and clarinet, alternate parts are included so that the flute part can be played by an oboe or clarinet, the oboe part can be substituted with a clarinet, and the clarinet part may be played by an alto saxophone or English horn.
Raindrops comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• Flute (alternate part for oboe or Bb clarinet)
• Oboe (alternate part for Bb clarinet)
• Bb Clarinet (alternate part for Eb alto saxophone or English horn in F)
• Marimba—low A (playable by one or two players and includes options for 4.5-octave, low F instrument)
Composer Naoya Wada describes “Raindrops” as a pop-style piece that (as the title indicates) evokes a musical image of raindrops. The marimba part is written for a low-A instrument, and the score contains optional notes for a low-F instrument. The composer also gives the options of one percussionist performing the part with four mallets or two performers using two mallets each. Additionally, Wada provides the following substitutions for the three woodwind instruments: flute (or oboe, B-flat clarinet), oboe (or B-flat clarinet), B-flat clarinet (or E-flat alto saxophone, English Horn in F). Tapspace has produced a clear and professional product, with a setup diagram, instructions, and downloadable parts and audio files.
Musically, “Raindrops” is a tonal, pleasant, poppy piece in ABA form. The marimba often accompanies the woodwind melodies, but it has a few spotlight moments of melodic and improvisatory material. If played by one person, the marimba part is at an intermediate level, with double stops, rotation strokes, rolls (including one-handed), and hand-to-hand independence making up the bulk of the technical components. If played by two performers, the top marimba part, with its fast moving sixteenth notes and periodic melodic role, is more difficult than the bottom. The woodwind parts are also at an intermediate level, making “Raindrops” an ideal work for an undergraduate chamber performance.
—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 6, December 2020
