Christopher Shultis

Biography

Christopher Shultis is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico where he taught percussion, composition and musicology. He also served as Regents’ Professor of Music and in 2010 gave the 55th Annual Research Lecture: “the highest award UNM bestows upon its faculty members.” He was awarded two Fulbrights to Germany: the first at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (1993-94) and the second at the Universität Heidelberg (1999-2000). Shultis now divides his time between composition and writing and his scholarly work on John Cage is internationally recognized. His work as a creative artist and scholar frequently draws on his past as an orchestral and solo percussionist and conductor of the University of New Mexico Percussion Ensemble, working closely with many composers including Lou Harrison, Konrad Boehmer, John Cage, Michael Colgrass, James Tenney and Christian Wolff—the latter two writing music dedicated to the ensemble.

As a composer, Shultis originally wrote experimentally conceptual pieces often performed by himself, (and recently released as a book by ACA), with a shift to fully-notated work in the mid-1990s.  All of his music is presently available through the American Composers Alliance and he has been a member since 2010. He still regards himself as an experimental composer and his inspiration now comes from long walks in mountains and woods. A CD of his music, Devisadero: Music from the New Mexico Wilderness, is available through Navona recordings.

  • solo keyboard
  • ACE Publications

    17 title(s)
    Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
    Christopher Shultis CENTENARY FRAGMENT fl, cl, vib, vln, vcl
    Christopher Shultis CIRCLINGS 4 gayageums and electronics; With (optional) video by Hee Sook Kim
    alternate version: string quartet and electronics; with optional video
    Christopher Shultis DEVISADERO
    pf
    Christopher Shultis EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC AND WRITINGS (1988-1994) variable ensembles, percussion-centered
    Christopher Shultis From Waldmusik: Wissahickon, Pulpit Rock, French Creek
    percussion, piano, field recording playback
    Christopher Shultis GLOCK solo glockenspiel
    Christopher Shultis little light, in great darkness sop sax, fl, ob, cl, bsn, hn
    solo soprano saxophone, ww quintet
    Christopher Shultis One Far Noise Solo Tam-Tam and Electronics
    Christopher Shultis ONEIRO Percussion (3), clock timer, video projection
    Christopher Shultis OPENINGS 3-2-4(bscl)-2; 4-3-1-1; SAATB(saxes); hp, pf, timp, perc(5), db
    large ensemble of winds, saxophones, harp, piano, brass, percussion, contrabass
    Christopher Shultis PARADISE BETWEEN solo clarinet + fixed media audio
    Christopher Shultis Retro Variations Percussion Ensemble
    12 Players
    Christopher Shultis Sanjo Variations 4 Gayageum
    Christopher Shultis SIXTY-FOUR STATEMENTS RE AND NOT RE CHILD OF TREE solo percussion, spoken texts pre-recorded
    Christopher Shultis SONGS OF LOVE AND LONGING
    voice and piano
    Christopher Shultis WALDEN MINIATURES
    Christopher Shultis World's End Preludes solo piano

    Additional Works