Rush E

Evan and his friend Ezra, best friends for several years now, share interests in video computer games, cats, and music. Lately they have been arguing about whether “Rush E” is possible or impossible to play on a piano. It’s a whole social media phenomenon, Rush E. (Linked to a Medium article that I think should be accessible to everyone; if not, you can search for it.) 

Ezra says it’s impossible to play. 

Evan says if it’s impossible to play, how did somebody write it? 

Ezra says they wrote it, but they never played it because it’s impossible to play.

Evan says he’s heard someone play it on Youtube. 

It’s a piece of music created by someone who calls himself “Sheet Music Boss,” not to be played, not to be heard, but to be talked about on social media and argued over by nine-year-old boys. How close can anyone come to playing it? What if they modify it a little? If it’s modified, is it still Rush E? Is a playable variation on Rush E still Rush E? 

Deep questions. 

Neither Evan nor I are sufficiently developed in our skills to even attempt it. We spent the evening together, had spaghetti, and tried making a cardboard gift for his dad (it didn’t work; not all inventions succeed on the first try). I persuaded him to watch the first half hour of a new documentary about waste called Buy Now, about consumerism and the trashing of the planet. Trailer is 2 minutes 15 seconds. Highly recommend, especially before the big annual buying season.

Mostly we listened to a variety of pianists and one violinist on TikTok, Youtube, Apple Music, and Instagram attempt Rush E (and sometimes succeed). My favorite is the version played by Polish pianist Annique Goettler on Instagram (link possibly only accessible to those on Instagram). There’s also an excellent version on Apple Music by a pianist named Vüsal Namazli (Turkish maybe?).