Michael Gordon: Rushes for Seven Bassoons

Rushes Ensemble (l to r): Jeffrey Lyman, Saxton Rose, Lynn Hileman, Michael Harley, Rachael Elliott, Dana Jessen, Maya Stone. With apologies for my mumbling in such a live space, I’ve transcribed my introduction for those interested in what was spoken from the stage: “A few brief words: First of all welcome to what I know will be a unique musical experience because none of you have heard this before, but one which I hope will be rewarding and very interesting. [Also] a word of thanks to the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the Sally Fleming Master Class Fund for helping to bring my colleagues in the Rushes Ensemble here. This is a very different kind of listening experience. This is the second in a series of works by Michael Gordon in which he is exploring the potentials of like instrument ensembles. Of course we have Rushes for seven bassoons and before this he created a work called Timber for five percussionists all playing amplified two-by-fours, and in both of t