Dr Ryan Molloy

    Music

    Gaeilge agus fáilte

    Associate Professor

    Logic House
    109
    (01) 708 3730
    http://www.ryanmolloy.ie

    Biography

    As a composer and performer, Ryan Molloy’s work has been performed to international audiences on four continents for over fifteen years, including major concert venues such as Lucerne Hall, KKL (Switzerland), Kölner Philharmonie (Germany), National Concert Hall (Ireland), Holywell Music Room (England) and Ulster Hall (N. Ireland). In great demand as an accompanist, he has recorded over a dozen albums and his repertoire spans numerous genres from genres from traditional Irish music to contemporary classical music, performing with the Chieftains, David Munnelly Band, Beoga, Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, the Ulster Orchestra and the Irish Concertina Ensemble amongst others. Currently a lecturer in composition at Maynooth University, Ryan studied at the University of Oxford and latterly at Queen’s University Belfast where he completed his PhD ‘The Traditional Contemporary Dichotomy in Irish Art Music: A New Compositional Approach’ under the supervision of Dr Simon Mawhinney.

    Ryan’s compositional work has won numerous prizes and has been broadcast both nationally and internationally on BBC Radio 3 and Radio Ulster, RTÉ Lyric FM, Radio 1 and Ráidió na Gaeltachta as well as on BBC 2, UTV and BBC World. Most recently, Ryan received a major commission from RTÉ Lyric FM for a new harp concerto, Gealán, as past of their 20th birthday celebrations. Several of Ryan’s works have also been chosen to represent Ireland internationally by the International Society for Contemporary Music, at the ISCM Musicarama in Hong Kong in 2015 and at the ISCM World New Music Day in Vancouver in 2017 and in Auckland in 2020. From 2012 to 2014, Ryan’s compositional work was supported by a BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowship in association with Moving on Music.

    In early 2017, Ryan released a CD of his piano works entitled Innisfail, recorded by award-winning American pianist Alexander Bernstein. Other recently completed works include     a violin concerto for Darragh Morgan and the Ulster Orchestra, Gortnagarn II a commission from the Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble, Dúchann, a fanfare for the papal visit to Ireland in 2018, a new work for piano and tape commissioned by the IMBOLC International Arts Festival, and Ogham, a new work commissioned by the Ulster Youth Orchestra to celebrate their 25th Anniversary Year.

    2019 saw the release of Ryan's critically acclaimed first solo album pianophony, and 2020 also sees the release of a new CD of chamber works, featuring the 30-minute song cycle     for voice, flute & harp Buaine na Gaoithe performed by its commissioners, the Damselfly Trio (CH-USA). 2020 additionally sees the première of works for the Dublin International Piano Competition and the ‘In Tune for Life Orchestra’ (a ‘trad orchestra’).

    Past collaborations include diverse performers and ensembles such as the Danish String Quartet (DK), Concorde Ensemble (IE), EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble (UK), Ulster Orchestra (NI), Composers’ Ensemble (UK), Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble (NI), Konvergence Ensemble (CZ), Franziska Schroeder (AT/NI), Carla Rees (UK), Zoë Conway, New Dublin Voices, Elizabeth Hilliard & David Bremner, and Nick Roth (IE). 

    Ryan is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre (www.cmc.ie).

    Visit     www.ryanmolloy.ie for information on other works, performances and recordings.

    Research Interests

    • Irish ‘art music’ from the late twentieth century to the present;
    • Irish traditional music and its development in the late Twentieth Century;
    • Postmodern nationalist aesthetics in Irish art music;
    • Microinterval modality in older traditional Irish music; 
    • New compositional styles allowing fuller incorporation of Irish traditional music in the contemporary medium;
    • The examination of identity in contemporary art and the response of contemporary performers to ‘traditional’ material;
    • The place of contemporary composition in modern society;
    • Cultural contexts of improvisation
    I am interested in hearing from potential MA or PhD students or postdoctoral collaborators. If you have any queries or proposals, please contact me at ryan.molloy@mu.ie.

    Composition

    Year Publication
    2021 Ryan Molloy (2021) Sraith na Búille (The Boyle Suite). Dublin: [Composition]
    2021 Ryan Molloy (2021) dlúthinneach. Dublin: [Composition]
    2021 Ryan Molloy (2021) Casúir ’s Cnaipí. Dublin: [Composition]
    2020 Ryan Molloy (2020) The Ballycommon Suite. Dublin: [Composition]
    2020 Ryan Molloy (2020) Luasc. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2020 Ryan Molloy (2020) Arcady. Dublin: [Composition]
    2020 Ryan Molloy (2020) Síoglór. Dublin: [Composition]
    2019 Ryan Molloy (2019) Gealán. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2019 Ryan Molloy (2019) Adeste Fideles Fanfare. Dublin: [Composition]
    2019 Ryan Molloy (2019) Trí Amhrán. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) Dúchann. [Composition]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) Ogham. [Composition]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) The Mountains of Pomeroy. [Composition] [Link]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) Loinnir Laoise. [Composition] [Link]
    2018 Ryan Molloy & Martin Dyar (2018) Buaine na Gaoithe. [Composition]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) Béal. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) Tu Es Petrus. CMC: [Composition]
    2017 Ryan Molloy (2017) Amhrán Fheilimidh. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2016 Dr Ryan Molloy (2016) Be Thou My Vision. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2016 Dr Ryan Molloy (2016) Violin Concerto. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2016 Dr Ryan Molloy (2016) for Morton O'Leary. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2016 Dr Ryan Molloy (2016) Gortnagarn (II). Dublin: [Composition]
    2016 Dr Ryan Molloy (2016) Death and the Post Office. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2015 Dr Ryan Molloy (2015) Meithealated Spirits. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2015 Dr Ryan Molloy (2015) Irish Suite. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2015 Dr Ryan Molloy (2015) Innisfail. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2014 Dr Ryan Molloy (2014) Seisiún. [Composition] [Link]
    2014 Dr Ryan Molloy (2014) Cantaireacht. [Composition] [Link]
    2014 Dr Ryan Molloy (2014) Bodhrán v.1.0. Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2014 Dr Ryan Molloy (2014) Clearances (III). Dublin: [Composition] [Link]
    2013 Dr Ryan Molloy (2013) Concertino. [Composition] [Link]
    2013 Dr Ryan Molloy (2013) Gealach Críoch Lochlann. [Composition] [Link]
    2013 Dr Ryan Molloy (2013) Salve Regina. [Composition]
    2012 Dr Ryan Molloy (2012) Sliabh Geal gCua. [Composition] [Link]
    2012 Dr Ryan Molloy (2012) Between The Tunes. [Composition] [Link]
    2012 Dr Ryan Molloy (2012) Jolly, Slender Beggarman. [Composition] [Link]
    2012 Dr Ryan Molloy (2012) For A Lone Piper. [Composition] [Link]
    2012 Dr Ryan Molloy (2012) Innisfail. [Composition] [Link]
    2011 Dr Ryan Molloy (2011) Séamsur II. [Composition] [Link]
    2011 Dr Ryan Molloy (2011) Séamsur IV. [Composition] [Link]
    2011 Dr Ryan Molloy (2011) Gortnagarn. [Composition] [Link]
    2011 Dr Ryan Molloy (2011) Séamsur III. [Composition] [Link]
    2010 Dr Ryan Molloy (2010) Third Epistle to Timothy. [Composition] [Link]
    2010 Dr Ryan Molloy (2010) Aisling Airt Mhic Cumhaigh. [Composition] [Link]
    2010 Dr Ryan Molloy (2010) Séamsur I. [Composition] [Link]
    2009 Dr Ryan Molloy (2009) An Seilgeoir. [Composition] [Link]
    2008 Dr Ryan Molloy (2008) Sætre Brygge. [Composition] [Link]
    2008 Dr Ryan Molloy (2008) Mise Éire. [Composition] [Link]

    Sound recording

    Year Publication
    2023 Ryan Molloy; Charlie Le Brun (2023) Breton. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2022 Cathal Ó Curráin; Ryan Molloy; Marty Barry (2022) Cosán Ceoil. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2022 Ryan Molloy; Stephen Doherty; David Doocey; Kieran Leonard (2022) NxNW. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2021 Ryan Molloy, Martin Dyar, The Damselfly Trio, Liz Pearse (2021) Buaine na Gaoithe. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2021 Ryan Molloy; Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble (2021) Gortnagarn II. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2021 Ryan Molloy (2021) Tempered. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2019 Ryan Molloy (2019) Pianophony. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2020 Ryan Molloy; Barry Kerr; Niamh Dunne (2020) Cairn. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2019 Fergal Scahill & Ryan Molloy (2019) One Day :: November Woods. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) new music::new ireland 3. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2017 Alexander Bernstein & Ryan Molloy (2017) Innisfail & other piano works. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2016 We Banjo 3 (2016) String Theory. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2015 We Banjo 3 (2015) Live in Galway. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2014 Seamus Walshe (2014) Turas. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2013 David Doocey (2013) Changing Time. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2012 Fergal Scahill & Ryan Molloy (2012) Wayfaring. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2012 Trad Noise Trio (2012) twentytwelve. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2012 David Munnelly & Mick Conneely (2012) Tis What It Is. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2010 Shauna Mullin (2010) The Wishing Tree. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2009 Dean Warner (2009) The Northern Box. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2009 David Munnelly Band (2009) Tight Squeeze. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2008 Paul McGlinchey (2008) Unearthed. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2008 Fergal Scahill & Ryan Molloy (2008) The Dusty Bridge. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2007 Paul Brock & Enda Scahill (2007) Humdinger. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2006 David Munnelly Band (2006) By Heck. [Sound recording] [Link]
    2006 Kieran Munnelly & Aidan O'Donnell (2006) In Safe Hands. [Sound recording] [Link]

    Media

    Year Publication
    2015 Dr Ryan Molloy (2015) Good Boy. Belfast: [Media]

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2017 Ryan Molloy (2017) Folk Music Analysis 2017 Microinterval Modality In Irish Traditional Music - An Empirical Approach Málaga, ES, .
    2019 Ryan Molloy (2019) Future Folk A summary of recent performance and compositional practice in Traditional Irish Music Newnham College, Cambridge University, 05/09/2019-07/09/2019.

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2007 Molloy R.; Danielsson A.; Karlsson L.; Eland J. (2007) 'Double photoionisation spectra of small molecules and a new empirical rule for double ionisation energies'. Journal of Chemical Physics, 335 (1):49-54. [DOI]
    2006 Molloy R.; Eland J. (2006) 'Double photoionisation of toluene'. Chemical Physics Letters, 421 (1-3):31-35. [DOI]

    Invited papers

    Year Publication
    2015 Ryan Molloy (2015) Traditional Irish Music in String Quartet Form: the fabric of 'Gealach Chríoch Lochlann'. [Invited papers]

    Invited Seminars

    Year Publication
    2013 Ryan Molloy (2013) A Survey of Recent Compositional Work. [Invited Seminars]
    2017 Ryan Molloy (2017) Traditional Contemporary Music: Conflicts of Identity/Influence. [Invited Seminars]
    2018 Ryan Molloy (2018) Traditional Contemporary Music: Conflicts of Identity/Influence. [Invited Seminars]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2023) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Association of Irish Composers Member 28/02/2013 -
    Irish Composers Collective Member 12/03/2010 - 30/04/2015

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/01/2013 BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowship
    01/01/2010 Winner - West Cork Music Composition Competition
    01/01/2009 Highly Commended - Jerome Hynes Composition Competition

    Education

    Start date Institution Qualification Subject
    Queen's University Belfast PhD in Composition
    University of Oxford MChem
    Queen's University Belfast MA in Composition

    Languages

    Language Reading Writing Speaking
    French Fluent Fluent Fluent
    Irish Fluent Fluent Fluent