William Ramsay did not consider labels to be limits. He was equally comfortable and talented as a writer, a physicist, and a composer of music. His music appeals to the intellect as well as the ear. These pieces draw inspiration from a broad range of sources, from Scott Joplin and Dvorak, to a pair of red shouldered hawks that nested year after year in a Monterey cedar tree near his home in Santa Barbara. The title piece, Genesis, is an interpretation of the Book of Genesis from the King James Bible. They are performed on piano, flute, violin, and violoncello. Two of the twenty-eight compositions feature mezzo-soprano vocals. Performed and recorded by professionals, this is the collection of his music that William Ramsay chose to share with the world.
A comic mini-opera.
Scenes from this opera were performed by the Santa Barbara Music Club Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Public Library, Santa Barbara, California. Performed by soprano Christine Hollinger, mezzo-soprano Holly Clementz, tenor Gabriel Silva, baritone Andre Shillo, and pianist Christopher Davis.
In the composer’s words, “Bigbrains.com is a short comic opera based on the current rage of for developing new information technologies—often by tiny startup firms. In the story, Jesse and Lisa, partners in bigbrains.com, have developed a brand-new media concept—they sing It All Starts With the Idea. They are looking to merge with a large firm—owned by Hugo. Lisa has a yen for Jesse, but he has his eye on someone else—who turns out to be Hugo’s girlfriend. These relationship issues threaten to nix the planned merger. They sing No Merger? No Merger! and I’ll Get That Guy If It Takes All Week. But in the end, it all turns out for the best.”
A comic mini-opera, unfinished.
Scenes from this opera were performed by the Santa Barbara Music Club on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. Performed by soprano Christine Hollinger as Donna Elvira, soprano Kyra Folk-Farber as Donna Anna, tenor Bryan Lane as Don Ottavio, baritone Tyler Reece as Don Giovanni, baritone Bryon Mayes as Leporello, narrator Patrick McHugh, and pianist Christopher Davis.
This sequel to Don Giovanni was written in the spirit of the playwright Tirso de Molina, who wrote the first play about Don Juan.
Humerto Almeida, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
The frustrations of a mismanaged trip to Africa boom out in Madagascar. Zanzibar was more fun.
Humerto Almeida, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
Kary Kramer, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
“Serious Song” is a try at being Vaughn Williams.
“Neapolitan” refers to the chord a major third below the tonic.
An homage to Barbara Tuchman.
Depressed in the Phoenix airport.
Celeste Travera, mezzo-soprano; Valerie Malvini, viola; Egle Janulevicite, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
For mezzo-soprano and piano. Text by Heinrich Heine.
For voice and piano. Text by Robert Burns.
For voice and piano. A patriotic tribute to his town.
For mezzo-soprano and piano. Lyrics by his ancestor Sir Thomas Wyatt, a noted poet of the court of Henry VIII.
For mezzo-soprano and piano. Text by the greek poet Sappho.
For mezzo-soprano and piano.
“Aubade” was his first composition, written on a dare from his teacher, Matt Harre.
Text by Emily Dickenson. Performed by Bryan Lane, tenor; Tyler Reece, baritone; Christopher Davis, piano. William Ramsay Memorial Concert, Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, California, February 11, 2017.
Performed by Christine Hollinger, soprano; Christopher Davis, piano. William Ramsay Memorial Concert, Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, California, February 11, 2017.
Written for his daughter Alice Ramsay, soprano. Words by John Donne. Watch the video below to hear her singing it.
Robert Biaggnini, violin; Jeness Johnson, violincello; Humberto Almeida, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
Reflections on a trio by Dvorak.
Lesley Chen, violin; Leah Lucas, violin; Jeness Johnson, violincello; Melody Lai, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
Inspired by Adam Nicholson’s book God’s Secretaries, about the devising of the King James Bible.
For viola and piano
Using raga riffs heard on a trip to India.
Lesley Chen, violin; Melody Lai, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
Red-shouldered hawks roost in our neighbor’s cedar tree.
For solo violin.
For cello and piano.
For solo violin.
For Lesley Chen in far-off El Paso.
For cello and piano.
Written for and performed by him on the piano and son John on cello at daughter Carol’s wedding in 1987.
For guitar and vibraphone.
Sonata for flute and piano. Linda Holland, flute; Egle Januleviciute, piano. Genesis, 2008, William Ramsay.
For symphonic orchestra.
For mezzo-soprano and string quartet.
A tribute to “Negro” spirituals.
For solo flute.
For woodwind quintet.
For Irish flute and piano.
The Cooley Bull Heist.