Program note:
This piece is part of a collection that is a kind of program music, meant to represent the peculiarity of the subconscious world rather than the reality. What does a volley of ping pong sound like on the piano? This is what I decided to find out, and the results of my research are heard in The Ping Pong Prelude. After the imitative opening measures, however, the game continues in a dreamlike state, while still making use of the initial musical motifs.
About the composer:
David Rubinstein has received awards at the Ojai Festival, the Diana Barnhard American Song Composers Competition and the 2003 Renee Fisher Competition, which commissioned his latest piano work, Toccata. Recent compositions included Cappuccino Concertino, featured on the “In Praise of Music” Series in Los Angeles and Sonatina for Woodwinds, premiered by Calico Winds and featured on the Bakersfield Symphony New Directions Concerts. He has scored, orchestrated and conducted a number of films, including Marching Out Of Time and The Opera Club as well as theatrical productions such as Guare’s Landscape of the Body. Performing the classic repertoire as well as his own music, his pianistic style is noted for its unobtrusive technique. Appearances during the 2001-2002 season included the Poulenc Sextet with the North Winds Quintet, the Bach Concerto in D-minor with the Cal State L.A. Baroque Ensemble and numerous performances of his solo piano work, Curious Assortment.
