A performance of 'Dark Rain' at one of the Gala Concerts of Wasbe, Killarney (Ireland). This was interesting in that for the first time I played one of the solo parts, along with Rob Buckland. The Chethams School of Music Wind Band were fantastic, expertly directed by Dave Chatterton. Every time 'Dark Rain' has been performed it provokes a reaction - people love it or hate it!! This is fine by me, I'm just grateful that it's programmed. A legendary figure in the Wind Band world is Tim Reynish, someone that I respect immensely, and he said to me after the performance that he personally didn't like the piece……. 'Dark Rain' is full on in terms of density of sound, deliberately so, and some people can find it disturbing! Before I started writing the piece in 2005 I thought about Harrison Birtwistle's 'Panic' that John Harle and percussionist Paul Clarvis premiered at the Last Night of the Proms. A piece that ignores (only my opinion) a more usual balanced relationship between tension and release, in this case it's mostly tension, which is reflected in the title of the piece. For 'Dark Rain' I aimed to maintain tension for all the piece except a final 'chorale' section. This tension surfaces in different ways ; rhythmic tension in the first soprano saxophone feature, dynamic tension in the raucous big band sections, tension in the opening very angular unison saxophone cadenza which screams in the harmonics…… but, hopefully a well earned 'release' during the final 'chorale'. Lots of people came up to me and said that they loved 'Dark Rain', if people don't like a piece they normally don't tell you! I admire Tim for being honest and thank him for his feedback. Performances of 'Dark Rain' are programmed in Manchester and Birmingham this Autumn. Please see the 'Diary Page' for more details.