Album Notes

Akryszak@hotmail.com

Featuring the Buffalo, New York-based E.D.W.A. QUARTET: Bryan Eckenrode, Gregory Docenko, Brian Walnicki, Alan Reed, this collection also includes harpist Beth Ann Brenneman, in works originally included in the Christmas Past collection on KINO and featured on Turner Classic Movies library of silent classics. The quartets include some of the energy of Kryszak's guitar solo work, combined with softer melodies that counter the more stringent harmonies resulting from close canonic structures and overlapping modulation. (d.f.)

From the L.A. Times description of first film score release of A CHRISTMAS PAST (11-22-2001)

HOLIDAY THEMES
"A Christmas Past," VHS or DVD, Kino . A collection of nine short silent holiday films produced between 1901 and 1925, including a 1909 D.W. Griffith film, "A Trap for Santa," and a 10-minute version of "A Christmas Carol" produced by Thomas Edison's studio. The films have been digitally mastered from original 35-millimeter elements and are accompanied by a new score by Al Kryszak.

Other Works by the Composer:

MUSIC FOR FILM

BROKEN BLOSSOMS
(chamber ensemble) Lincoln Center Film Society/Turner Classic Movies 2008
DOCTOR JEKYLL & MR HYDE 1920-Barrymore
(Piano & Orch) Lincoln Center Film Society /Turner Classic Movies
CHRISTMAS PAST (KINO FILMS DVD)
(String Quartet, Harp) Worldview Ent./Turner Classic Movies
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1926 w Lon Chaney))
(Gtr Orchestra, fl,vc,voice) WNYC-FM New Sounds /World Financial
Center Premiere
INTOLERANCE (1916 Griffith)
(4 Elec Gtrs, Vln, Perc) Symphony Space)
THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1927 Epstein)
(chamber ensemble) American Festival of Microtonal Music / NY University
NOSFERATU (1921 Murnau)
(Solo Gtr, Hammered Dulcimer) American Festival of Microtonal Music
LIMITE (1927 Brazil)
(Solo Piano) The New York Shakespeare Festival Film Series
HAMLET (1921-Sven Gade)
(Elec Gtr,Piano) The New York Shakespeare Festival Film Series

ORCHESTRAL
GRENADINE (Violin Solo, Harmonicas, Drums & Guitar Orch.)
ALL THE LUCK (Clarinet/Orchestra)
CELLO CONCERTO (cello/orchestra)
VIOLA CONCERTO (viola/large orchestra)
VIOLIN CONCERTO "Three Seasons, Two Emotions and a Planet"
FLUTE AND GUITAR ORCHESTRA
THE TEMPEST (3 percussion, Wind Orchestra)
CONCERTO FOR LARGE ORCHESTRA (group soloists: vln, vla, vc, bass)
LIKE BREATHING (Sax Quartet and Orchestra)
WATCHING HER EX (Recorder Quartet winds and Gtrs)
THE ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FREIGHT YARDS (6 trmb,6 trp)

THEATRE / RADIO / DANCE
GRENADINE Scott Behrend/RoadLessTraveled
THE MAN WHO HAD ALL THE LUCK
Scott Behrend/RoadLessTraveled
TRIANGLES Scott Behrend/RoadLessTraveled
LYDIE BREEZE Andrew Utter/Clark U
REAL TO REEL Fred Neumann/Mabou Mines
THE MORMON PROJECT JoAnne Akalaitis
PRINCE FREE OF SORROWS Per Lysander/TOY
THE TWELFTHE NIGHT Percy Steven/SIP Buffalo
THE TEMPEST Floorplay/Rockwell Hall
TIME TO KILL CBC /TOY
THE FOOD PIECE Floorplay Dance Theatre

CHAMBER / SOLO
12 TRANSPARENT PRELUDES (solo piano)
LEGEND ( Wind Quintet)
COLLECTION: (chamber works)
MUSIC FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR ORCHESTRA & VIOLIN

EDUCATION
SUNY Buffalo:
MFA Music Composition: BFA Music Composition; BA Music Education Composition:
Morton Feldman, Louis Andriessen, Lukas Foss, Lou Harrison,
William Kothe, Lejaren Hiller, Frederic Rzewski
Film Scoring: LA
Earle Hagen
Piano:
Yvar Mikhashoff

REV (Modern Rock Trio) Founding Member-Gtrs-Vocals
“Nothing To See Here” (SFB records) iTunes / CDBaby 2005
“Nothing But Hearsay” (SFB records) iTunes / CDBaby 2009

CONTACT:
Al Kryszak Composer/Guitarist/Conductor

LINKS / EMAIL: Akryszak@hotmail.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2860930/resume
http://www.myspace.com/alankryszak
www.itunes.com

REVIEWS of CHRISTMAS PAST film score:

RUMSMUGGLER.COM:
"I will give the collection credit for having a great score provided by Al Kryszak. My main interest in it is that it gives a peek into the Christmas traditions of the early 20th century, and you don't see very many films from 1900-1910 anywhere. "

MIDNIGHT PALACE FORUMS:
" ...a wistful new score by Al Kryszak-performed on a variety of instruments including harp, violin and Christmas handbells - which beautifully enhances the delicate shadings of each of these rare and fascinating treasures. "

THE WELL TEMPERED BLOG:
"...The music by Al Kryszak is particularly effective."