ORCHESTRA

NOTE FROM COMPOSER

Leviathan Rising, for symphony orchestra, is an orchestral work inspired by the myth of the sea monster Leviathan—an ancient creature said to rise from the ocean’s depths to confront those who cross its path. Rather than a literal retelling, the piece explores the idea of an overwhelming natural force emerging from the unknown. The piece premiered on Sunday, April 28th, 2024, under the baton of Michelle Ottesen and was performed by the students within the Quad Cities Youth Concert Orchestra.

The music begins with a powerful, full-orchestra statement that immediately places the listener in the heart of the action. This opening gesture suggests the moment the Leviathan surfaces—sudden, massive, and impossible to ignore. Soon after an ostinato within the string section and woodwinds paints a picture of an intense mood that sets the listener up for an edge-of-your seat action. The primary motive is stated within the horns and second violins and soon after, orchestrated within the entire ensemble.

Midway through the piece, a moment of eerie stillness offers a breath—perhaps the eye of the storm, or the stunned silence of sailors gazing upon the beast. This is highlighted by a solo violin and flute helping to articulate the helpless mood of the ship’s passengers. However, the peace is fleeting. The final minutes, again introduced with the opening ostinato, unleashes a furious, climactic battle between man and monster, the orchestra caught in a tempest of swirling motifs and crashing harmonies.

Whether the Leviathan is vanquished or simply returns to the depths is left unresolved, fading into a murky, open-ended conclusion. Leviathan Rising leaves us with the sense that some forces are too vast, too ancient, and too powerful to ever be truly conquered.