Jonathan Beard Jack Ryan Music

Pacific Symphony “Re-Rite” project to premiere shortly

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:12:12 -0700

I’m pleased to announce that Chaos in the Garden, my electroacoustic work created for the Pacific Symphony of Orange County, is about to be released. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, Chaos represents a flagship portion of the Pacific Symphony’s “Re-Rite of Spring” project - celebrating innovative reinterpretations of Stravinsky’s groundbreaking work. In my case, I have used significant portions of audio performances of Rite, and re-imagined them electronically in new yet familiar ways, interwoven with new electroacoustic material. In addition, a sample set of loops and audio clips that I created especially for this work will be being offered by the Pacific Symphony, via social media, to anyone who wishes to do their own “remix.” I look forward to posting a link to the work here shortly.

Hard at work on LA Master chorale Children’s Songs

Wed, 1 May 2013 23:06:28 -0700

After the recent success of our “Gilgamesh” oratorio partnership, I’m pleased to be working on a set of children’s songs for the Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Singers, as part of my Voices Within residency. These songs will be performed in late May with an inner-city children’s choir from downtown Los Angeles. Always an honor to be working with this amazing group of performers and organization!

“Daisy” Wraps, “Killer,” and the Game Developers Conference

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:10:57 -0700

Quick Easter weekend update: for you LA folks, Driving Miss Daisy ends its acclaimed run tonight! I have been so honored to be a part of this quiet production that has transcended into an extended success, with Ovation recommendations and great reviews. Huge thanks to Christian Lebano for inviting me to write a brand new original score for a now-classic story, and congrats to him as well for being listed in CBS Los Angeles roundup of the top five LA stage directors!

A Killer of Men is now fully scored and mixed; I can’t wait to share this music. Written old-school analog style, with as many hardware analog synthesizers as I could squeeze in, I love how sometimes innovation requires returning to something old.

Which leads me to my final topic: the Game Developers Conference, which I just returned from in San Francisco. Always an amazing event bringing together all facets of the videogame industry, I can say we should expect fascinating innovations this year both big (enhanced virtual reality developments), and small/retro (more and more games to be played directly from your web browser, for example). Hopefully, we will see such innovative trends continue - both big and small - on the music side as well.

They don’t make ‘em like this anymore!

New 100-strong Gilgamesh Oratorio premieres Thursday 2/21

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:00:36 -0800

On thursday, February 21st, the Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Singers, an eighty-five piece academy performance choir, and chamber orchestra will premiere Gilgamesh: Live While You’re Alive in downtown Los Angeles. Jonathan co-wrote and fully arranged this new work while mentoring Cortines Visual and Performing Arts Academy students, who contributed themes and harmonic elements. This captivating new oratorio will have two initial performances only, and is not to be missed!

Thursday, 2/21/13 7pm
Friday, 2/22/13 12pm
FREE ADMISSION
Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, 450 N. Grand Avenue, Main Theater, Los Angeles 90012

Three Days (of Hamlet) now available on DVD

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 13:47:42 -0800

Hi Folks, a quick note: Three Days (of Hamlet) has been “pre-released” on DVD and is now available at all digital retailers, from Fenix Pictures. The official rollout is not for another month, but for you early-birds, you can get your hands on it now. More info on the soundtrack release soon as well! Click HERE to find the film on Amazon.