Ned Rorem is widely recognized as the preeminent composer of American art song, and as such his orchestral music is often overlooked. But, while it is true that his compositions for the voice far outweigh those for other instruments, and that his writing tends always to be infused with a vocal quality, he has nevertheless produced a considerable amount of fine music for instrumental ensembles. In fact, Rorem's Pulitzer prize in music (1976) came not from a song cycle or choral work, but instead from his Air Music for orchestra; indeed, as his career has progressed, his energies have been increasingly devoted to exploring the possibilities of the orchestra. In doing so he has discovered a broad palate of instrumental colors and a more expansive harmonic vocabulary than is found in his songs.

Water Music was commissioned by the Oakland Youth Orchestra (the educational branch of the Oakland Symphony) in 1966, while the composer was on the faculty of the University of Utah. The work, scored for Clarinet, violin and orchestra, connects Rorem to an impressive lineage of composers who have written similarly-titled works, including: Handel, Telemann, Arnold Bax, Libby Larsen, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Sir Malcolm Arnold.



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