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Commissioned by Jeremiah German.
Premiered by the IRIS Orchestra conducted by Michael Stern, Germantown, TN, January 31, 2009.
Other performances: Howard County High School Gifted and Talented Orchestra conducted by Tim Reinhart, December 17, 2009; Columbia Orchestra conducted by Jason Love, March 27, 2010; Concert Opéra de Toulon conducted by Daniel Klajner, April 19, 2013; IRIS Orchestra conducted by Michael Stern, Memphis, TN, March 15, 2014; Concert Opéra de Toulon conducted by Sergio Monterisi, September 27, 2014.
Saturday night’s IRIS Orchestra concert was a rich mix, weighted toward the traditional but with the brightest spot a premiere performance of Jonathan Leshnoff’s “Rush”. ... As the name implies, bursts with adrenaline and emotion. Its beauty comes from all directions and not all of it frenetic. There are deliciously quiet moments that add to the richness and provide contrast to the overall energy. The composer continues his string of smart, lyrical pieces that never fail to engage.
—Jon W. Sparks, Memphis Commercial Appeal, February 2009
Program Note
Rush (2008) was commissioned by Jeremiah German, a retired economics professor and long-time patron of Leshnoff's work. German had asked Leshnoff to write several brief musical "moments" for solo piano, each lasting under two minutes. Pleased with the result, German challenged Leshnoff to incorporate some of these themes into an orchestral work. The result was Rush, the first of Leshnoff's growing number of orchestral works under 10 minutes. The kernel motive of Rush is presented in the opening measure, furiously developed by every instrument group. The frenetic propulsion yields to a haunting clarinet solo over shimmering strings, before the orchestra's kinetic energy returns, only to be thwarted at its climax by the solo harp. A final burst from the full orchestra ends the work. Rush is dedicated to David DePeters who maintains parallel careers as a percussionist and the IRIS Orchestra Manager. Stern and the IRIS Orchestra premiered it on January 31, 2009.