Scenes from The Wild West  | Written for : Solo Guitar | | Gary Ryan's compositions for guitar have been exceptionally well received during the past few years. His groundbreaking Scenes from The Wild West (2003) for solo guitar is a six movement work that is widely acclaimed as one of the most original and entertaining compositions written for solo guitar in many years. The suite explores and blends a wide range of techniques used in the many different styles of guitar playing and American music that exist today. There are musical references to steel, slide, plectrum, rhythm, electric and flamenco guitar as well as to the mandolin and banjo, country and western, gospel, jazz, rock, electronic dance music, film soundtracks, classical, TV, nursery rhymes and even incidental music to cartoons! Scenes from The Wild West portrays the guitar in a new light, transcending the standard guitar repertoire in such a refreshing way that it never fails to entrance audiences. |  |
| | Click here for 'Scenes from The Wild West' Programme Notes by Gary Ryan. |
|
Scenes from Brazil | Written for : Solo Guitar | | In his next solo guitar work, Scenes from Brazil (2004), Gary Ryan continues
his exploration of the sound world of the guitar even further. It's defining
central movement, Junglescape, uses new contemporary techniques for the
instrument in such an imaginative and creative way that the listener is transported,
via its evocative and vivid soundscape, to the delicate and fragile world of the rainforest.
Ryan uses new guitar sounds to add a stunning programmatic element to the piece,
captivating audiences by the magical beauty of the music. By contrast, the two outer
movements of Scenes from Brazil, Sugarloaf Mountain and Rio Bay (from the Corcovado) portray the colourful and vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. The samba-like rhythms of Sugarloaf
Mountain and the lively bossa-nova section in Rio Bay perfectly balance the esoteric tones
of the central movement. |  |
| | Click here for 'Scenes from Brazil' Programme Notes by Gary Ryan. |
|
Generator| Written for : Guitar Duo | | Generator (2005)
is a guitar duo written for Mark Eden and Chris Stell. In this composition
Ryan continues his crusade to redefine the boundaries of the classical
guitar by creating an unparalleled ensemble work that never fails to stun
audiences. Ryan's music, now forming its own distinct genre, dispells
the myth of 'classical' and ingeniously draws in listeners from all backgrounds
due to its eclectic qualities. In his programme notes Ryan describes the
inspiration behind the work which centres around the sounds and rhythms
generated by machinery: Silence followed by 'electric sparks' create the
machine which then comes to life with an 'unstoppable rhythmic energy,
passing through a series of extraordinary sound worlds until eventually
the symmetry of malfunction, death and decay brings the piece to extinction'.
Other fascinating and diverse influences include electronic music, free
running, juggling, obsessive thoughts, cloning, the harmonic series and
the blues scale, tribal chanting and the art works of Giger and Escher. |
| | Click here for 'Generator' Programme Notes by Gary Ryan. |
|
Latin Cabaret (Showgirls)| Written for : Guitar Trio | | Latin Cabaret (Showgirls) (2005), is a guitar trio with a vibrant Latin jazz feel which was
commissioned and recorded by Appassionata on their CD, Let Go - BGS Label. Latin Cabaret conveys the unremitting energy and rhythmic drive of a Brazilian street carnival and the
spectacle and glamour of a nightclub cabaret, hence 'Showgirls'. Also an accomplished pianist, Ryan
conceived much of the harmonic material for this piece at the piano. Melodically the work is based around
different permutations of the pentatonic scale whilst for the overall 'Latin jazz feel' Ryan cites the music of guitarist
Pat Metheny as an inspiration. There are also percussive and improvisational ideas woven into the musical
texture and occasional elements of minimalism. |
| | Click here for 'Latin Cabaret (Showgirls)' Programme Notes by Gary Ryan. |
|
City Scenes| Written for : Solo Guitar | | City Scenes (2005) is a wonderful three movement suite for solo guitar. Its two outer movements, Rush and Metropolis, depict the vibrance and energy of city life and contrast beautifully with the lyrical central movement, Birds Flew Over the Spire (depicting the classic English scene of swallows flying around a church spire in late summer). Rush opens in a vital five with poly-rhythms, syncopations and a harmonic language reminiscent of music from Cuba and Venezuela whilst Metropolis conveys the non-stop hustle and bustle of a musical 'city' where influences combine from many different ages and musical cultures. As with so many of Ryan's compositions, this movement is particulary exciting to watch being performed with energetic syncopations, left hand hammered chords, finger clicks, tamboura effects and even the sound of a siren! |
|
Dreams, Rest and Motion| Written for : Guitar Duo | | Dreams, Rest and Motion (2006) is a guitar duo composed for the Dutch guitar duo, Duolisme. This work has a completely different feel to the dark mechanical
world of Generator. It combines different kinds of silence, movement and the gaining of momentum to create a wonderully atmospheric piece which portrays the varying stages of dreams and sleep. Indeed the piece often
has dream-like qualities, notably at the beginning and end and there are moments where the music suddenly 'rests', creating different atmospheres of silence. After the stillness of the opening the piece gradually builds up momentum through a series of increasingly elaborate improvistory melodies played over a syncopated accompaniment. Ryan then ingeniously builds the music up to an almost carnival-like atmosphere before finally returning to the rest and silence of the introduction implying that all that has been heard may have simply been a dream. |
| | Click here for 'Dreams, Rest and Motion' Programme Notes by Gary Ryan. |
|
Songs from Erin| Written for : Solo Guitar | | Songs from Erin (2007) is a shorter, two movement work for guitar commissioned by Rebecca Baulch and inspired by Ryan's visits to Ireland. Ryan explores different tunings for the guitar in these pieces, making the instrument sound reinvigorated, idiomatic and resonant in new ways. Out of Clonmel has an energetic flavour reflective of Irish folk music, the melody being decorated with ornaments which imitate those played on the pipe or whistle. Lough Caragh is more contemplative and influenced by the traditional Irish ballad. It depicts a beautifully tranquil lake west of Killarney in County Kerry and reflects Ryan's love of the incredible scenery and atmosphere of south-west Ireland. |
|
Bazaar| Written for : Guitar Duo | | In Bazaar (2008), Ryan takes his exploration of new guitar techniques to a further dimension, producing a highly original duo work which is again totally different to standard repertoire. The work is for two guitars with a pre-recorded electronic loop station and features the use of specific objects to create percussive effects akin to the 'prepared' piano of the 1960s. Among the objects used are a tuning fork, spoons, pencils and ping pong balls! The title of the piece refers to the way the two guitars 'barter' with one another, exchanging and repeating material in the manner of a busy market stall holder and his customer. Bazaar makes extensive use of the diminished or octotonic scale to create an Eastern flavour in the music which is interspersed with four 'still interludes' representing 'calls to prayer'. It is exciting and intoxicating to perform, watch and listen to, leaving the audience spellbound by its entrancing powers. |
| | Click here for 'Bazaar' Programme Notes by Gary Ryan. |
|
Play Piazzolla - Easy Guitar Arrangements by Gary Ryan | Written for : Solo Guitar | Play Piazzolla is a unique collection of 13 tangos by the Argentinian master of tango nuevo, arranged for solo guitar. The pieces have been skilfully arranged by Gary Ryan so that this wonderfully vibrant music can be easily enjoyed by intermediate guitar players.
Artisane - Ausencias - Chanson de la naissance - El viaje - Los suenos - Milonga for Three - Vuelvo al sur - Milonga - Mumuki - Ouverture (1) - Ouverture (2) - Sensuel - Tango final |  |
|
Trinity Guildhall Music Examination Repertoire| Written for : Guitar |
Gary Ryan also composes extremely popular student repertoire.
The following pieces
are listed in the current Trinity Guildhall Guitar Syllabus:
Initial
Hand Bells
Snake in a Basket
Grade 2
Night Sky
Grade 3
Russian Bear
Barn Dance
Lost at Sea
Grade 7
Smoke Rising*
Grade 8
Rondo Rodeo*
*Taken from Scenes from The Wild West by Gary Ryan, Camden Press
|
|
Music for the Theatre| Written for : Various |
Gary Ryan has composed several electronic scores for theatre including:
The Passion Plays by Michael Punter (Crystal Palace Park, London 1992)
Partridge by Michael Punter (Barons Court Theatre, London 1993) - nominated for a London Fringe Theatre Award
Wolves by Michael Punter (Bridewell Theatre, London 1997)
The Lady of the House of Love by Angela Carter (Horsham Arts Centre, Sussex 1997)
Lebensraum by Horovitz (Kings Head Theatre, London 1998).
|
|
|
xxxxxx