Publisher

 Protone

Year of Composition

 2011

Instrumentation

 Solo piano and actor

Duration

 10'

Kathleen Supové and Oleg Dubson performing

The Page Turner is a work for pianist and actor. It begins with a staged interaction between the pianist (actor) and the page turner (pianist). A script for this interaction is available here. 

Most pianists can relate incidents involving page turners – some comical, some terrifying. It is a job that is taken for granted by most, until something disastrous happens. I have designed a piece for pianist and actor incorporating many of the experiences I have heard as well as experienced first-hand. The piano work is written so that it’s most dramatic moments occur when the page must be turned. This brings the role of the page turner into direct contact with the music. Knowing that so much depends upon the split second timing, the page turner in this episode commits all the blunders I could think of. There is a surprise ending, however, which I would not want to disclose!