for solo violin (2012)

Composed by Christian Ryan
Kehan Zhang, violin
Recorded at The Royal Danish Academy of Music

       I occasionally write etudes for myself to help improve whatever technique might need improvement, and to convey a musical message. While writing this etude, I was obsessively playing through and listening to Bach’s Chaconne from Partita No. 2 for solo violin — and one spot of string crossing arpeggios struck me near the middle, right before the sudden switch to major. I started to play around with the phrases, warping and expanding them. Eventually, I got an etude out of it — to help me learn that section of the Chaconne, but also to serve and a standalone piece meant for the concert hall simultaneously. 

Christian Ryan (2012)

Étude (2012)

for solo viola and pre-recorded tape (2012)

composed by Christian Ryan 
performed by Kehan Zhang, viola
Recording and Sound by India Hooi, at Det Kongelige Danske Musik Konservatorium,  
2013 November

        This piece began as a big m piece of staff paper with loads of musical sketches, fragments, college music theory notes, drawings, phone numbers, personal thoughts, and an almost perfect recipe for a very delicious Hungarian stew. This was that one piece of staff paper that you leave on your desk and mindlessly write on when you can’t figure out what to do with the piece you are supposed to be writing. I took all of these sketches and arranged them into an approximately thirteen-minute long piece for solo viola with a pre-recorded drone accompaniment made for live performance. The piece aims to expose the viola’s awkwardness as well as its beauty. Originally written for a very dear friend and violist, Alycia Wilder. 

Christian Ryan (2013)

First Viola Study (2012, rev. 2013)

I turned 30 while living in Japan, and after living there for nearly 3 years, I returned to the US to finish my Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and subsequently had my first baby. I had assumed that women had made some progress in terms opportunities while I was gone, but it felt like nothing had improved; composition contests and commissions closed their doors to those over 30 - and, there were no good quality affordable childcare options. As an artist, I felt like I was on a treadmill, becoming increasingly tired while not going anywhere at all.  
     This piece was selected for inclusion at the Feminist and Theory conference at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, performed by graduate students there.

Treadmill, for string sextet of 2 violins and 4 celli (2009)

Composed and recorded while I was a composition student at the Conservatoire de Beaux Arts, Fontainebleau, France, summer of 1992. This piece was awarded the Prix de Ville for that year.

Sonate, trio For Viola and Two Celli (1992)

Hyper Flutes

Ting that actually might get used

I am a composer, ethnomusicologist, choreographer, and dancer.  I am interested in how the body informs the musical process and how the musical process informs movement.  

Sonate, trio For Viola and Two Celli (1992)

K. Natasha Foreman