Quilts was jointly commissioned by the Knoxville Symphony and Larry and Rise Tucker in honor of the 90 th Anniversary of the KSO. The Tuckers wished to co-commission a work thathad deep roots in the Knoxville community. Leshnoff and Maestro Aram Demirjian have collaborated several times with the KSO. Larry Tucker and Jonathan Leshnoff have collaborated since Tucker’s days as Vice President of Artistic Administration at the Nashville Symphony. For over twenty years, Rise Tucker has offered Rhythm Band workshops at senior living communities such as Shannondale Senior Living in Maryville, Tenn. Rhythm Band is about connecting to others through the joy of making music as a band.
After one of her workshops at Shannondale, Rise happened to see an amazing quilt display in the lobby of one of the community’s buildings. She was “blown away” by the artistry and creativity of these works of art. Upon learning that they were made by residents of the community, she had an epiphany. Much like music, these beautiful quilts stitched together these seniors’ imaginations, memories, and emotions through ardent craftmanship. Tucker was convinced that more people needed to see them. She decided to put together a “metaphorical quilt,” an experience honoring the quilters’ inspiring creativity. With the help of her husband, she arranged to feature some of the quilts in a musical composition by Leshnoff, played by the Knoxville Symphony under the direction of Maestro Demirjian, and present them with the background of the artful and historic Tennessee Theatre.
Additional quilts displayed in the Theatre’s lobby serve as a prelude to the inspiring and celebratory evening. Leshnoff chose three quilts that resonated with him musically and inspired each of the three movements of his work. The first quilt, “Pinwheels” by Carol Young, was the first quilt Young ever made at the age of 69. It consists of squares filled with pinwheels of varied colors and designs. Leshnoff sensed the turning motion of these pinwheels and created a movement with a subtle undercurrent of rising and falling musical waves to represent this motion. These waves first occur in the low register of the clarinets and harp, soon spreading mysteriously to other instruments of the orchestra.
The second quilt, “Memories of Yesteryear,” was made by Connie Evans. This quilt portrays a picturesque view seen through a windowpane. One sees an inlet of a river, with tree branches gracefully hanging down and ducks in the water. Evans mentions that this image is drawn from her childhood residence in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Leshnoff captured the nostalgia of this scene in the slow, lyrical lines that rise and climax in this slow movement.
The final quilt, “Patriotic,” is by Susan Eagleton. Born on July 4, Eagleton says she has always loved patriotic symbols. Hence, red, white and blue, and fabric printed with stars, flags, fireworks and eagles in her spirited and engaging quilt, inspired Leshnoff to write an energetic and suspenseful final movement. Unexpected rhythms and motifs bounce around the orchestra, capturing the vitality of Eagleton’s celebration of liberty.
Throughout all movements, Leshnoff has woven a chorale he wrote. This chorale integrates itself into each movement, with its quiet presentation on the outset, its reoccurrence in the slow middle movement, and its dramatic presentation upon the closing measures of the composition. Leshnoff has subtitled this chorale as “Knoxville Chorale” thereby presenting the community with a musical motto to celebrate the KSO and the community it serves with a happy 90th anniversary.
Quilts is dedicated to Leshnoff’s close friends Larry and Rise Tucker, and to the inspiringcreativity of senior citizens.