KSO This Week: Jonathan Leshnoff’s Premiere — 3 Quilts, 1 Chorale, and an Entire Community

 

GRAMMY-nominated composer Jonathan Leshnoff had an unusual assignment: create an orchestral work inspired by quilts made in Maryville. It turned out to be a natural fit. Quilts, he says, are “precious expressions” – stories, textures, repetitions, variations, motifs, improvisations. In other words, they’re already music.

His new work, Quilts, is the latest commission in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s “9 for 90” concerts. The first step was choosing the quilts that sparked Leshnoff’s imagination. The second: letting their visual language become sound.

The 15-minute work unfolds in three movements – a kind of Quilts at an Exhibition, as Leshnoff jokes.

1. “Pinwheels”

Carol Young’s quilt gave him “a sense of subdued motion, a quiet murmuring.” That image becomes rising and falling waves first whispered by clarinets and harp, then spreading through the orchestra in mysterious currents.

2. “Memories of Yesteryear”

Connie Evans’ windowpane quilt, which Leshnoff describes as “nostalgic and bittersweet,” inspired the slow movement. Long, lyrical lines rise toward a gentle climax, capturing the wistful stillness of looking out onto a remembered scene.

3. “Patriotic”

Susan Eagleton’s exuberant July 4th quilt – packed with every patriotic symbol imaginable – becomes an energetic finale. Unexpected rhythms and bright motifs ricochet around the orchestra, echoing the vitality of Eagleton’s celebration of liberty.

Threaded through all three movements is a unifying musical idea: Knoxville’s very own chorale. Introduced quietly in the brass, it returns in the middle movement and reappears triumphantly at the end. “I wanted to give Knoxville its own musical motto to celebrate this momentous anniversary,” Leshnoff says.

Quilts is dedicated to Leshnoff’s close friends Larry and Rise Tucker and to the inspiring creativity of senior citizens. It was jointly commissioned by the Knoxville Symphony and the Tuckers in honor of the KSO’s 90th anniversary. 

The Tuckers sought a commission rooted deeply in the Knoxville community. For over twenty years, Rise has led Rhythm Band workshops in senior living communities. After a visit to Shannondale of Maryville, she saw a quilt display that moved her profoundly. She envisioned a “metaphorical quilt” — a musical tribute to the quilters’ artistry.

Audience bonus: The three featured quilts – along with others from the broader exhibit – will be on display in the Tennessee Theatre lobby.

Author’s note: I first encountered Leshnoff – one of the most performed living American composers – through the recording of his Violin Concerto No. 2. A reviewer wrote, “Here’s some music that goes straight to the soul.” My sentiments exactly. Knoxville is in for a treat.