Hatfield's treatment of rain as musical subject matter brings genuine lyricism to SSA writing without resorting to obvious tone painting. The piece sits comfortably for developing choirs while offering enough textural variety to keep singers engaged across eight pages.
What to expect
Contemplative and fluid, with the harmonic language flowing like water itself. The piece balances quiet introspection with moments of fuller sound, creating space for singers to find beauty in restraint.
Who it's for
Intermediate to early advanced treble choirs looking for accessible yet artistic concert material. This octavo works equally well for middle school honors groups and high school singers building their art song repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
Pay attention to how the accompaniment supports textural shifts between solo and tutti passages; the recorded track models phrase breathing effectively.
Tune the lower voice parts carefully during sustained sections, as SSA voicing can expose intonation issues in the second soprano and alto ranges.
Shape the dynamics around the text to let imagery emerge naturally rather than treating dynamic markings as literal instructions.
How to use it
Pair this with other art songs or folklore arrangements to create a thematic concert set around nature and weather. Its eight-page length makes it substantial enough for a featured slot without dominating a program.
Skills your students will build
Sustaining longer phrases with consistent breath support
Blending SSA voicing while maintaining individual line clarity
Responding to text-driven dynamic shaping
Reading and interpreting expressive markings in folk-based repertoire
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