music/Maker with Tyler Kline // Episode 44

Tyler Kline
12 hours ago
2 min read

Listening Across Place and Process in Music with Christopher Stark

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On today’s episode of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler is joined by Christopher Stark.

Christopher’s music is deeply rooted in the landscapes of the American West, shaped by his upbringing in rural Montana and informed by a sensitivity to sound, space, and place. A Guggenheim Fellow and Rome Prize recipient, his work has been performed by ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Alarm Will Sound, and the American Composers Orchestra. His output spans concert music and film, all marked by a vivid sense of atmosphere and attention to sonic detail.

In this conversation, Christopher reflects on how landscape, identity, and environment intertwine in his work, and on the ways patience, revision, and trust guide his process. He and Tyler talk about how his small-town beginnings and self-taught guitar playing led to a life in composition, and how that early curiosity evolved through mentorship and teaching. They discuss residencies as spaces for artistic renewal, the balance between individuality and "finding your people" in the contemporary music world, and how creative work can carry the imprint of the places we come from.

Christopher and his work can be found online at: https://christopher-stark.com/

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