Thunderstorms are both wonderfully beautiful and terrifyingly powerful forces of nature. The pouring rain can be as chaotic as it is reliable, and as intimidating as it is calming. This piece explores both sides of this experience from the perspective of a lone traveler who suddenly finds themselves in the middle of pouring rain and intense thunder. Using both live percussion and an electronic track, the listener is surrounded by the storm just like our traveler. The percussionist has an unusual set up for this piece, with four low-octave crotales placed along the outer rim of their snare. Both bowed and stuck, these crotales create unique sounds when allowed to vibrate on the membrane of the drum. This piece aims to blend the sound quality of both live and recorded percussion with the natural noises of the thunderstorm to create a distinctive texture.

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Recorded Performers: Cameron Church