New Mexico Magazine, the state magazine for New Mexico

Music

Kathleen Ryan, The Rebirth of Light

Play a track from the album:

Genre: Christmas/piano and keyboards

Story by Emily Drabanski

The frenetic pace of the holidays is all too often accompanied by endless renditions of Christmas classics pumped blaring through shopping malls—a far cry from this lovely, contemplative holiday CD by pianist Kathleen Ryan, of Mountainair. While many of the holiday melodies here will be familiar, there are no screeching voices or ringing bells. This recording is the one you’ll put on while you sit by the fire to write your holiday cards.

The disc opens with the title track, Ryan’s serene reflection on the beginning of the winter solstice. Her other original piece, “That Single Star,” also has a beautiful, meditative quality. People who like George Winston’s classic December album will probably enjoy Ryan’s compositions, which are written in a similar vein.

The other dozen songs are Ryan’s renditions of Christmas classics, which she plays with emotion and amazing sensitivity throughout. Several pieces capture the joyful exuberance of the season, such as her interpretation of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,” and her medley “Usher In the Morning,” which delightfully weaves parts of the J. S. Bach chorale “Ermuntre Dich” with “I Saw Three Ships” and “Good Christian Men.”

Ryan certainly has a distinctive style; most moving here are her incredibly subdued, somewhat haunting performances of “The Coventry Carol,” “Somebody Talkin’ ’Bout Jesus,” and “The Never-Ending Starlit Road (We Three Kings of Orient Are).”

Kathleen Ryan was named the Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico Commissioned Composer for 2008.

For info: www.cdbaby.com and www.kathleenryan.com