The Dark Softly Falling

Score-'RiverRun' was Steven Albert's third work inspired by the writing of James Joyce. The opening movement ‘Rain Music’ is meant to convey the origins of a river. After the sharply accented chords of the movement's introduction themusic becomes quieter suggesting an atmosphere of expectancy. The lightly scored second movement ‘Leafy Speafing’ has a languid cadenza-like opening on alto flute followed by a more tightly focused thematic idea from thesolo viola. The two instruments then engage in a quiet dialogue against the softly changing chords.The third movement ‘Beside the Rivering Waters’ is a fragmented march and scherzo. It opens with a children'ssong. The march for the pit band follows and we are engulfed in a boozy wake. The scherzo brings a return of the current then the march returns abruptly followed by the children's tune - which is in turn transformedinto a raucous pub song. Throughout the fourth movement ‘RiversEnd’ musical ideas from the preceding movements are recalled. Night is falling and the river is moving quietly into darkness. As it approaches the open sea itsmomentum builds and it soon becomes a torrent spilling into the ocean. The work ends quietly.

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