Ten Chromatic and Expressionist Pieces - SOLO BSN

Ten Chromatic and Expressionist Pieces

for solo bassoon 

by Ryan Hare, American composer and bassoonist

ABOUT THE MUSIC

These Ten Chromatic and Expressionist Pieces for unaccompanied bassoon are dedicated in gratitude to my former bassoon teacher Arthur Grossman, one of the truly great bassoonists of the world (now retired) as well as a wonderful pedagogue, and for me an important mentor and friend.

The earliest drafts of these pieces date from the 1990s. I recall asking for input from Mr. Grossman back then, and his warmly enthusiastic response, but for no obvious reason they had sat in a drawer or box somewhere, until 2021, when I chanced upon them again and decided to revisit the set. There were seven originally sketched out; I have added three more entirely new pieces to complete a set of ten.

As I am a more accomplished composer than I was then, the pieces have undergone some significant editing and expansion. My original idea was that they would be just little exercises, but in the process I have come to feel they are worthy compositions in their own right, of sufficient interest and quality to be included on a recital program. They may be presented in any number, in any order.

  No. 1. Andante; yearning, with rubato.
  No. 2. Poco allegro; playful.
  No. 3. Largo; searching inward.
  No. 4. Allegretto; homage to Anton Webern.
  No. 5. Allegro marcato; emphatic, martial.
  No. 6. Adagio; wandering in the night.
  No. 7. Moderato; easily distracted.
  No. 8. Adagietto; rather secretive.
  No. 9. Poco moderato; six little variations on a theme by Arnold Schönberg.
  No. 10. Presto possibile; with nervous excitement, homage to Ruth Crawford Seeger.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Ryan M. Hare, composer and bassoonist, was born in Reno, Nevada in 1970, and now lives in Pullman, Washington. He earned tenure and the rank of full Professor at Washington State University, where he taught composition, bassoon, and music theory from 2003 until 2020, when he decided to take a voluntary early retirement in order to focus his attention on composing. Ryan’s music has been performed at a large variety of venues and festivals, in as diverse locations as Tokyo, Japan, and Darmstadt, Germany, as well as Southeast Asia and China. Commissioners include Fred Korman, longtime former principal oboist of the Oregon Symphony, and the Washington Music Teachers Association, who awarded Ryan "Washington State Composer of the Year" in 2012. Further commissions have come from the Walla Walla Symphony, Mid-Columbia Symphony, Washington Idaho Symphony, Common Tone Arts, Marysville Chamber Music, Affinity Chamber Players, the University of Idaho Vandaleers Concert Choir, and the Lake Forest College Orchestra, among others. His music has been championed by numerous other well-known performers and ensembles around the world, with notable recognition from New Music USA, Artist Trust, and the American Prize. In addition, a number of Ryan's compositions are published by TrevCo Music Publishing and ALEA Publishing.

Before earning the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition in 2000 at the University of Washington, Ryan M. Hare earned a Master of Music degree in Composition at Ithaca College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in composition at Oregon State University. Ryan's principal teachers in composition include Joël-François Durand, Diane Thome, Richard Karpen, Greg Woodward, and Ron Jeffers. Additional composition studies were also undertaken with Shulamit Ran and Jacob Druckman, both visiting professors at Ithaca College, and Brian Ferneyhough and Paul-Heinz Dittrich at the 1996 Ferienkurse für neue Musik, Darmstadt, Germany. His primary bassoon teachers include Arthur Grossman, Lee Goodhew, and Mike Curtis, with additional studies in audition preparation with Seth Krimsky."