Torrent

String Orchestra
Duration circa 3:50
Grade 4

A storm of fiddle tunes and ostinatos portray a flash flood rushing down a southwestern slot canyon in this fast-paced outing for advancing string orchestra. Conceived as an American response to the 4th movement of Gustav Holst's "St. Paul's Suite," "Torrent" is set in a lively six-eight meter in minor pentatonic tonality.  After the piece flows through a few fiddle-friendly keys, the first violins bring on the deluge with accessible third position arpeggios.