Morton Subotnick is one of the pioneers in the development of electronic music and an innovator in works involving instruments and other media, including interactive computer music systems. The work which brought Subotnick celebrity was Silver Apples of the Moon [1966-7], was commissioned by Nonesuch Records, marking the first time anoriginal large-scale composition had been created specifically for the disc medium – a conscious acknowledgment that the home stereo system
constituted a present-day form of chamber music.
He is also pioneering works to offer musical creative tools to young children. He is the author of a series of CDROMS for children, a children’s website [www.creatingmusic.com] and developing a program for classroom and after school programs that will soon become available
internationally.
He tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe as a lecturer and composer/performer.
The concert will be a presentation of works in progress. Pianist Vicki Ray will be joining Morton Subotnick to perform “The Other Piano”, a new work for piano and surround sound electronics. “The Other Piano” will receive its formal premiere in Los Angeles on May 1. He will perform a solo laptop excerpt from the latest carnation of “Until Spring Revisited”. And, will share with the audience the newest, in progress interactive work for children.
Pianist Vicki Ray performs widely as a soloist and collaborative artist. She is a member of the award winning California E.A.R. Unit and Xtet . As a founding member of PianoSpheres , an acclaimed solo piano series dedicated to exploring the less familiar realms of the piano repertoire, her playing has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times for “displaying that kind of musical thoroughness and technical panache that puts a composer’s thoughts directly before the listener.” A long-time champion of new music Ms. Ray has had works written for by composers John Adams, Paul Dresher, Stephen Hartke, Kamran Ince, Shaun Naidoo and many others. In 1989 she was the first place winner in the National Association of Composers USA competition for performers of contemporary music. Ms.Ray has been featured on the Los Angeles Philharmonic Green Umbrella Series, with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the German ensemble Compania and the Blue Rider Ensemble of Toronto with whom she made the first Canadian recording of Pierrot Lunaire .
Ray has played on various national and international festivals including the Salzburg Festival, the Berlin 750 Jahre Festival and the Ojai Festival where she premiered a new concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle. Her solo recording from the left edge , a collection of works written for her by composers living in California can be found on the CRI label. As a pianist who excels in a wide range of styles Ms.Ray’s numerous recordings cover everything from the semi-improvised structures of Wadada Leo Smith to the twisted groove base of John Adam’s Road Movies , from the elegant serialism of Mel Powell to the austere beauty of Morton Feldmans’ Crippled Symmetries . Ms. Ray has been a member of the piano faculty at the California Institute of the Arts since 1991.
