Composer Biography - Richard Byron Strunk (b. 1957)

Born in Casper,WY in the summer of 1957, Richard Byron Strunk by age 4 was taking piano lessons at his pre-nursery school. In the late ‘70’s & early ‘80s at Grinnell College he studied advance piano techniques with concert pianist John Jensen & musical composition with composers Alan Leichtling (Student of the great composers Roger Sessions, Darius Milhaud & Vincent Persichetti), and Jon Welstead, and Lee Cloud (Student of the great experimental American composer Peter Todd Lewis). Rick’s early electronic works and conceptually-based instrumental compositions earned him the reputation early on in College as a pioneer within the Advance Front of New Music. His works to date cover a wide and diverse spectrum of musical types embodying both conservative elements and radical innovations.

"A true innovator, full of life and passion, Richard Byron Strunk's music embodies conservative elements and radical innovations. His repertoire includes Classical, Jazz, New Age, Minimalist, Rock & too many to list! Such diversity enables Listeners from all walks of life to relate to Strunk's works." * Sonic Awareness

Mr Strunk originated the kaleidoscopic music method in the late 1970's & very early 1980’s and it is essentially a way to make Cubist music in any genre. His purpose in doing this was because he saw a need in the fragmented craft of modern music of bridge building between the fragmented orientations of listeners.

The kaleidoscopic music method allowed for the expansion of the Musical Form Theme and Variations to Composition and Variations and was originated by Mr. Strunk.  Today a composer may originate an important idea, concept or contribution to craft and gain little to no recognition for so doing. Sadly today, "Significance does not make for Fame but sadly Fame makes significance".

In the early ‘90’s Mr. Strunk was diagnosed with a severely functionally debilitating illness and his career seemed over. Yet even with being beset with both his illness, and being homeless for quite a number of months at several different times during the 1990’s, he continued to compose by gaining access to pianos in area churches. Much of the music he wrote during these difficult times reflects the beauty and joy of life rather than of only focusing on his suffering, and speaks to the heart, with substantive meaning for the mind, of one man’s triumph of hope persevering over despair.

Mr. Strunk believes that disability does not mean inability. Like many of the severely disabled, he is living proof that the disabled can and often do make valuable contributions to their communities and Society. All contributions from people at whatever level of development or recovery are valuable. Mr. Strunk's first steps in 1990 in occupational therapy of making a leather wallet and continuing on to his next projects that he had the then diminished capacity to do, helped him to redevelop and recover slowly over time his lost or damaged abilities necessary for the more involved and demanding musical constructions done in the late 1990's and continuing on  into the present. At whatever level of development one is currently at, ones works are of value; even if ones life has not turned out as hoped or planned. Life can get better and still be good. Life is bigger then our understanding, aspirations and ability to vision ahead; and can unexpectedly improve for the better, if one just keeps going.

Today Mr. Strunk is quite successfully managing his illness and his career, in part, thanks to some friends and family, a lot of patience, his medications, a number of helpful social programs, learning helpful skills and coping techniques to better manage his illness, constructive behaviors and productive projects, his commitment to Christ and church, his ethical sense, plus his own self-determination to recover, restore and make a good life for himself again.

When Mr. Strunk is not engaged in working on his Music and Visual Art projects or doing his household chores, he does enjoy watching a wide assortment of movies or playing computer games such as Baldurs Gate, Diablo, NeverWinterNights, Star Trek Online, Lord of The Rings Online and EverQuest on the Mac server.

Currently Mr. Strunk has been exploring the New Salon Venue of performance for his works via Computer/Internet downloads and distribution of his music now available for home listening as via downloads or on CD. Thus, Like Chopin involved within the earlier tradition of the Old Style Salon recitals, Mr. Strunk's Music works can be played in the homey comfort of the modern audiences living rooms. To Date, Mr. Strunk has composed over 800 musical compositions.