This is the score only.
The Sky About to Open (2004) for orchestra was written for and is dedicated to composer Judith Weir, on the occasion of her 50th birthday.
The work is based on musical material from Desiring the Solicitude of Rain (2003-04) fortenor and chamber orchestra, based on a text of Kathleen Wakefield. The title of this workcomes from the poem. (The title also references Weir's work The Welcome Arrival of Rain(2000) for orchestra.)
The work is a brief fanfare of spacious character -- filled with anticipatory energy: the skypregnant with rain about to fall.
Instrumentation
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet in Bb
2 Horns in F
Trumpet in C
Percussion (1 player: tubular bells)
(requires both 2 normal chime beaters)
Strings
(minimum of 2.2.2.2.1, larger section preferred)