Space Jump!

for orchestra
ca. 5’ 40”

Space Jump! (2024) was inspired by Felix Baumgartner's world record supersonic freefall off of a Red Bull-sponsored helium balloon 24 miles above the Earth. The death-defying jump was broadcasted around the world, but what gripped me was imagining the journey that led to the leap: the exhilarating rush of countdown and lift-off; the breathtaking view of the Earth as one slowly rises; the feeling of floating and weightlessness; the tense, agonizing fight against hypoxia and panic; the glorious anticipation of doing something no one else on Earth has done; and of course, the final seconds spent peeking over the edge before, as the world held its breath, jumping off.

Space Jump! was written for the Curtis Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Milarsky, conductor.

Performances:

20 Apr 2024 (world premiere)
Curtis Composers in Concert: CSO
Gould Rehearsal Hall, Curtis Institute of Music, PA, USA
Curtis Symphony Orchestra; Jeff Milarsky, conductor