Kathleen Ryan’s The Rebirth of Light has high musical interest and superb playing, containing originals as well as seasonal standards in totally fresh versions (check out her “Drummer Boy”). The opening title cut is just a gorgeous ray of peace.
“The Rebirth of Light” is the 10th anniversary reissue of Kathleen Ryan’s wonderful collection of Christmas music that peacefully explores the spiritual dimension of the holiday season. Originally released in 1997, this new version includes additional material. Most of the pieces were arranged for solo piano, but a few have keyboard instrumentation. The collection also features two original compositions. The CD sustains a really nice mood throughout, although some of the songs are joyful and exuberant, most are more subdued and reflective. Having been a piano teacher for more years than I care to admit, I often get very burned out on Christmas music, but I really like this album!
“The Rebirth of Light” opens with the title track, a quiet, exploratory piece that sets the mood with lots of open spaces between the notes, and a very peaceful message. “Angels We Have Heard On High” opens with a series of piano trills that suggest fluttering wings. With an improvisatory section in the middle, this arrangement is quite unusual and very effective. “God Rest Ye Merry” dances for joy, twirling and leaping into the air - a great arrangement! “Somebody Talkin Bout Jesus” goes very dark for a beautiful and soulful rendition of this old spiritual. “Come All Ye Shepherds” is a lively keyboard arrangement that brings the good news. “That Single Star” is the second original piece, and is a lovely meditation. I love “I Wonder As I Wander,” a carol said to have come from Appalachia. Ryan’s arrangement sticks to the melody, and really brings out the soulful nature of the song. “Usher In the Morning” is a keyboard medley of “Ermuntre Dich,” “I Saw Three Ships,” and “Good Christian Men, Rejoice.” Upbeat and lively, this is another toe-tapper that brings a big smile. “The Never-Ending Starlit Road” is a haunting solo piano arrangement of “We Three Kings of Orient Are” - one of the best I’ve heard. “The Coventry Carol” is another standout, overflowing with the beauty and tragedy of this ancient piece. “O Holy Night” and “Silent Night” are both stunning in their quiet passion and elegance.
“The Rebirth of Light” will certainly make a return appearance to my CD player as we get closer to the holidays! For a reminder and a celebration of the true meaning of Christmas, this is a wonderful choice. It is available from cdbaby.com and iTunes. Highly recommended!
...Kathleen Ryan's soothing style is quite suited to early morning listening. She plays with a firm deliberativeness well-suited to the early morning. Of the traditional carols included on [The Rebirth of Light], I enjoyed The Coventry Carol best. I also enjoyed the moody spiritual, Somebody Talkin Bout Jesus. But I particularly liked when she took a turn on keyboards with Come All Ye Shepherds. It was a little bit like listening to a Caribbean pan band.
Of her own work, I enjoyed The Rebirth Of Light, a languid, contemplation that fits my post-operative world view quite nicely. Her elegant piano and keyboard style is a great fit for me, generally. There is no victory for darkness here. Though Ryan's set concludes with even more irony, in the ever-familiar Silent Night, I know what every moose in Alaska knows: even in the darkest, coldest night, light finds a way.
From the title, I expected “A Handfull of Quietness” to be very calm, simple, and serene, so I was surprised to discover that the music is complex, full, and often quite bold. A classically-trained pianist/composer, Kathleen Ryan brings her rich background to her music, presenting us with a collection of nine original piano solos and six that are based on traditional melodies in the public domain. Inspired by a verse in Ecclesiastes, the album was created as a unified work and performed in silence. Ryan calls it “not always quiet music, but music achieving quietness of the soul.”
The CD begins gently with “All the Pretty Horses,” based on a traditional folk melody. Meditative and reflective, it’s a very calming piece. “East At Sunset” continues the peaceful mood simply but very colorfully. “40 Days of Desert” is darker, more somber, and has a mysterious cast to it. “What the Stars Saw On the Prairie” is serenity set to music. It is easy to visualize a gentle breeze blowing through the long grasses—a simple pleasure with no rush or pressure anywhere. Love it! “Something Water, Something Light” picks up the tempo and dynamics, creating a swirling dance of motion and light. “Hymn For Peace” goes inward and conveys a simple but passionate plea. “Veni Creator Spiritus” is from a traditional melody that Ryan imbues with quiet spirituality and a classical style. Open and simple at the beginning, the piece builds to a peak with each variation and quiets to a whisper by the end. “First Only Whisper” is my favorite track. Built around several themes, the piece has a feeling of deep introspection and quiet passion. At almost 8 1/2 minutes, “Bells, The Veil, and Victory” is by far the longest piece on the album. A recurring theme evolves as the piece develops, going from subdued to very big, bold, and triumphant. “Simple Love” is based on a traditional melody, and conveys a sweet but very powerful emotional message—another beauty! The title track closes the CD as it began, quiet and tranquil.
“A Handfull of Quietness” is a fascinating musical journey, reflecting a wide range of moods and emotions. The music has a complexity that will open up with each listen, letting you find something new each time. It is available from www.kathleenryan.com, cdbaby.com, and amazon.com.
Ryan paints in the impressionism of silence, with notes resonating over the vast plains of the soul. Tasteful and elegant with just enough austerity to avoid sentimentality.
Spacious, exuberant, crystalline music!
We had an evening, not only of musical pleasure, but of getting to know a kindred spirit.
I love your music. It makes my heart dance!
Your music brings me peace and happiness when my days are frazzled or gray!