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The title “Umulan o Umaraw” is in the Tagalog language and translates as “Rain or Shine”, a local saying meaning that one experiences both pleasure and gloom in life. The sonata contains 3 movements where you can feel the changes between minor key (Rain) to major key (Shine). It tells a story that our life is not all about just joy or just sorrow, but combinations of them. We may have struggles right now, but sooner or later we will get through it, knowing that there are yet more challenges waiting for us ahead. Informed by our past experiences, we may handle our future ones better. The 2nd movement, Andante, featured in this edition, describes the sorrow and unease upon witnessing the destruction left by a heavy rain or bad storm, all too common in the Philippines.

This Members’ Library composition is made possible by a generous donation from John Nelson, college music faculty member in Arkansas and at Georgia State, now retired, and also two-term member of the ARS Board of Directors, including service as board president. John sponsored the composition because he began playing the recorder in the 1960s and he knows that supporting the recorder enriches everyone’s life.