This project proposal seeks funding for the creation of a piano concerto for chamber orchestra loosely adapted from Dr. Rusche's solo piano composition, “ECLIPSE,” which premiered 3/3/10 on Ketevan Badridze’s faculty recital at Indiana University South Bend. The 20 min. duration piano concerto will premiere March 15, 2026, by the South Bend Symphony Orchestra on its “Mosaic” chamber orchestra series at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. The composition musically portrays an awesome solar eclipse as well as the human journey of seeking personal and societal light; holding fast to the good, true, and beautiful against an onslaught of oppressive darkness, knowing the light will return.

ECLIPSE, a three-movement piano solo, has been performed in South Bend, IN; Vincennes, IN; New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; London, England; and has received many positive responses and reviews.

I. Radiant Inferno - Dramatic musical contrasts which mirror the extremes of molten sunlight and threatening darkness.
https://marjoriemrusche.bandcamp.com/track/eclipse-piano-solo-movement-i-radiant-inferno

II. The Eclipse - The Moon's umbral shadow gradually encroaches on and then obliterates the Sun's light.
https://marjoriemrusche.bandcamp.com/track/eclipse-piano-solo-movement-ii-the-eclipse

III. Radiance Revealed - The softly shimmering sun grows in strength and finally shines forth with renewed brilliance.
https://marjoriemrusche.bandcamp.com/track/eclipse-piano-solo-movement-iii-radiance-revealed

Eclipse and Piano Portraits: Nightwatch (piano solos) . . . “It’s music just as wonderful as you can hear in Manhattan, or anywhere else, and obviously we heard that here tonight.” -- Randall Horton quoted by Andrew Shilling, Arts Writer for Queens Ledger, Forest Hills Times, Greenpoint Star, New York City press, March 2013

Eclipse (piano solo) " . . . a particularly evocative piece -- Rusche conjures extremes of sunlight and darkness, then the moon's shadow hiding the sun's light, finally resolving into an embodiment of the sun's renewed brilliance . . . In 'Eclipse" Rusche has managed to write a complicated intellectual piece while still presenting a pleasant, highly listenable musical narrative." -- Jack Walton, South Bend Tribune, February 2010

During its creation, I envisioned the ECLIPSE piano solo eventually expanding out orchestrally.

I am thrilled and grateful to have this opportunity to communicate my artistic vision.

http://www.marjorierusche.com
http://marjoriemrusche.bandcamp.com
http://marjorieruscheouramericanodysseyopera.com