Rain Tree (1981) is a composition for three percussionists or keyboard players composed by Tōru Takemitsu (1930 – 1996).  Each percussionist plays crotales (small pitched cymbals) in addition to their marimba or vibraphone.  Rain Tree comes from a set of compositions by Takemitsu he called the “Waterscape” series.  Takemitsu provided an explanation to this series of works in the opening to the score of Rain Coming for chamber orchestra:

Rain Coming is one of a series of works by the composer inspired by the common theme of rain.  The complete collection entitled “Waterscape” includes other works, such as Garden Rain, scored for brass ensemble (’74), Rain Tree, composed for vibraphone and two marimbas (’81), and Rain Spell, for flute, clarinet, harp, piano and vibraphone (’82).  It was the composer’s intention to create a series of works, which like their subject, pass through various metamorphoses, culminating in a sea of tonality.

In addition, Takemitsu provides a statement at the beginning of the score to Rain Tree to set the mood for the piece:

It has been named the ‘rain tree’; for its abundant foliage continues to let fall rain drops collected from last night’s shower until well after the following midday.  Its hundreds of thousands of tiny leaves – finger-like – store up moisture while other trees dry up at once.  What an ingenious tree, isn’t it?

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Performed by Matchstick Percussion

Video and Sound by Joshua Mallard & Han Hitchen

Produced by Lee Hinkle & Corey Sittinger

Program notes by Lee Hinkle