About the Music... Ocean Depths was originally crafted as a ballet in the vein of the great Stravinsky works. It’s a fast paced magical odyssey that takes place mostly under water. Though composed for full orchestra, the world premier was a live piano rendition performed by pianist Michael Schneider at a Verb Ballets performance May 11 and 12, 2007. Ocean Depths is in two movements with six sections in the first movement and four in the second. The combined run time is approximately 18 minutes. About the Pianist... Critics have hailed Michael Schneider as “a pianist with exceptional insight” and a “performer with great panache” in performances across the Unites States and internationally. About the composer... Composer Richard Rinehart is a Cleveland native who works as a contractor at the NASA Glenn Research Center. He is a technologist with expertise in the Supercomputing and Graphics and Visualization areas. Musically, he has composed 3 symphonies, numerous soundtracks for video, and an alternative Rock CD of original music under the band name Almost Huemon. He is also on the board of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony which specializes in new music. Rich explains: “I would like to attract new ears to symphonic music. My current compositional motivation is to create fresh, interesting, and colorful works but at the same time keep the music accessible to the listener”. The Ocean Depths Story... Movement I Our Story begins in the predawn moonlight, as an evil carrier bird swoops down over a large three mast sail boat and casts magical dust over the scene and thusly secures the story's destiny. At sunrise the boat's passengers are merrily performing their morning chores and activities. Their princess, Labartisha, is on the deck cheerfully helping them with the morning work. There is much merrymaking and dancing. A storm arises and the princess falls into the ocean and disappears. Down on the ocean bottom, Princess Labartisha lands on a dimly lit plateau. Her unexpected presence startles the underwater inhabitants and many eerie ocean dwellers cautiously approach her. As their initial fears subside, she is befriended by the ocean inhabitants. On a routine scouting mission, Prince Shureel feels an alteration of the waters. As he approaches the plateau, the beauty of the princess overpowers him. With their aquatic friends around them, they dance. Movement II The sound of a distant fanfare pierces the water as a scouting troop from the evil King Sookar's kingdom approaches and a battle ensues. When the battle ends, Princes Labartisha, Prince Shureel and their aquatic friends embark on a journey to King Nasad's underwater castle. Darkness falls as the march begins to King Nasad's underwater castle through murkiness and gloom. Finally, the light of the castle breaks the darkness as the castle is reached. The castle occupants herald the newcomers and there is much celebrating and dancing. As all good things must eventually end, so does the festivity. The castle and it's occupants begin to waver and fade. The castle disappears and Princess Labartisha finds herself back on the boat. Is that Prince Shureel there with her too?