As a guitarist and a vocalist Chris has explored very different styles. These are reflected in Chris\u2019s composing style, which, in general, is a synthesis of classical, jazz and world music. He focuses on music for guitar and chamber music that includes his beloved instrument. He mainly composes and arranges for the ensembles he is playing in and pieces with educational purposes. In some of his compositions he is relying on the improvisation skills of the performers, a musical skill that, although quite unusual for a classically trained musician, Chris has a high interest for.<\/p>\n
AWARDS<\/strong> PIECES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES PUBLISHED COMPOSITIONS<\/strong> “Paisaje rumbero con percussi\u00f3n” (2025)<\/strong> “Untitled. Oil on Cardboard” (2024)<\/strong> “The Panda Wears Prada” (2024) “Sabia” (2024)<\/strong> “Convivencia” (2024)<\/strong> “A Little Prayer” (2024)<\/strong> “Three Ukulele Dances” (2024)<\/strong> “8 Pieces for Guitar Trio” (2023)<\/strong> “Save It for a Rainy Day” (2021) “10 Etudes Concertantes” (2021)\u00a0<\/strong> “Land of Hope” (2021)\u00a0<\/strong> “Down in the Valley” (2021)\u00a0<\/strong> “King Arthur Suite” (2021)\u00a0<\/strong> \u201cFantasy No. 2\u201d (2018) \u201cFantasy No.1\u201d (2016) \u201cI Guess I\u2019ll Sleep on It\u201d (2013) \u201cJolie folie\u201d (2011) \u201cFenestrae\u201d (2010)\u00a0<\/strong> \u201cGitana linda\u201d (2009) \u201cSummer Dance\u201c (2008) \u201cAmigo\u201d (1997)<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a guitarist and a vocalist Chris has explored very different styles. These are reflected in Chris\u2019s composing style, which, in general, is a synthesis of classical, jazz and world music. He focuses on music for guitar and chamber music that includes his beloved instrument. He mainly composes and arranges for the ensembles he is playing in and pieces with educational purposes. In some of his compositions he is relying on the improvisation skills of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-222","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222"}],"version-history":[{"count":69,"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1490,"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/222\/revisions\/1490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrisruebens.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe album \u201cThe Yellow Duck\u201d (Chris Ruebens Ensemble), for which Chris wrote all compositions was rewarded a first prize at the international 13th Independent Music Awards Vox Pop in the category instrumental music in 2014. In 2015 an international jury of composers of the\u00a03rd Acerra Guitar Composition competition\u00a0has\u00a0awarded his “Fantasy No. 1” for solo guitar\u00a0with a first prize!<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Belgian publishing house\u00a0Auurk Ed.\u00a0has used several of Chris\u2019s pieces in her guitar methods \u201cGitaar horizon 2\u201d and \u201cGitaar horizon 3\u201d and the renewed versions “De Nieuwe Gitaar Horizon 3” and “De\u00a0Nieuwe Gitaar Horizon 4” and has published several seperate pieces and collections for the young guitar students. A full list of Chris\u2019s works published by Auurk you’ll find here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nPublished compositions are written for classical guitar solo, guitar duo, guitar trio, guitar quartet, guitar and string orchestra, guitar and violin, guitar, flute and violin, three guitars and ukulele. His fantasy suite for guitar quartet and string orchestra “Stories of a Common Man” hasn’t been published yet.<\/p>\n
\nfour guitars\/ensemble<\/em>
\nThis Spanish rumba immediately sweeps you away, transporting you to the heart of flamenco music in Andalusia in southern Spain. With its rasgueados, summery melodies, and vibrant percussion, this piece offers an exhilarating experience for both performer and audience alike. This piece is crafted for young guitar players, offering a delightful introduction to the rhythms and textures of Spanish flamenco music.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore<\/a><\/p>\n
\ntwo guitars
\n<\/em>As the title already suggests this composition can be experienced much like a painting. Each musical phrase unfolds like a brushstroke, leading ultimately to a space of complete improvisation.\u00a0The piece was premiered in 2024 by Chris Ruebens together with Lithuanian jazz guitarist and composer Mindaugas Stumbras, and recorded on their album “Strung Out”.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>two guitars
\n<\/em>A playful composition that encourages a touch of improvisation. The composer dedicated this piece to his youngest daughter, Ana. In collaboration with Lithuanian jazz guitarist and composer Mindaugas Stumbras, Chris Ruebens premiered the piece in 2024 and recorded it for\u00a0their album “Strung Out”.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore<\/a><\/p>\n
\ntwo guitars
\n<\/em>Inspired by the collaboration between John Zorn and Marc Ribot, Chris originally wrote “Sabia” as a straightforward melody intended for improvisation. He later recomposed it into a structured work for two guitars. The piece was premiered in 2024 by Chris Ruebens\u00a0together with Lithuanian jazz guitarist and composer Mindaugas Stumbras, and recorded on their album “Strung Out”.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore<\/a><\/p>\n
\ntwo guitars<\/em>
\n“Convivencia” refers to a period in medieval Spain when Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Al=Andaluz are believed to have lived together peacefully, fostering a flourishing of science and the arts. The piece was premiered in 2024 by Chris Ruebens\u00a0together with Lithuanian jazz guitarist and composer Mindaugas Stumbras, and recorded on their album “Strung Out”.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore<\/a><\/p>\n
\ntwo guitars<\/em>
\n“A Little Prayer” is a particularly introspective piece from a series of new compositions for two guitars, which the composer premiered in 2024 together with Lithuanian jazz guitarist and composer Mindaugas Stumbras, and recorded on their album “Strung Out”.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore<\/a><\/p>\n
\nthree guitars and ukulele<\/em>
\nThree dances “Slow Dance”, “In the Meantime” and “Richt inta ma barra \/ Right on Target” were written for the Baltic Guitar Quartet and released on the quartet’s album “Through the Meadows” (2024).
\nPublished by Les Productions d’Oz
\nScore<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a><\/p>\n
\nthree guitars
\n<\/em>Published by Auurk ed.
\nScore and audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>guitar<\/em>
\nThis\u00a0lighthearted piece for guitar was based on a little riff developed on the ukulele and was premiered on May 8th, 2021 during a TV show on Lithuanian national television. The piece is suited for both classical and steel-string guitar.
\nPublished by Les Productions d’Oz
\nScore<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a><\/p>\n
\nguitar
\n<\/em>Published by Auurk ed.
\nScore and audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\nflute, violin, guitar
\n<\/em>Published by Auurk ed.
\nScore and audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\nthree guitars
\n<\/em>Published by Auurk ed.
\nScore and audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\nguitar; two guitars
\n<\/em>Published by Auurk ed.
\nScore and audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>guitar and violin<\/em>
\nFantasy No. 2 originated in spontaneous improvisation, with improvisation serving as a key element in its development as well. This approach infuses the piece with rich emotions, romantic nuances, and flowing, expressive melodies.
\nPublished by Les Productions d’Oz
\nScore and audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>guitar<\/em>
\n<\/strong>This piece was composed using motives that were taken from free improvisation recordings. This piece was awarded\u00a0with a first prize by\u00a0international jury of composers of the\u00a03rd Acerra Guitar Composition competition.
\nPublished by Edizioni Esarmonia
\nScore<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>four guitars, trumpet (optional) and double bass (optional)<\/em>
\nMinimalistic piece with jazz influences.
\nPublished by Les Productions d’Oz
\nScore\u00a0<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>four guitars<\/em>
\nBalkan music meets gypsy jazz, with a small theatrical joke in the middle.
\nPublished by Les Productions d’Oz
\nScore<\/a>
\nAudio<\/a><\/p>\n
\nfour guitars<\/em>
\nThe starting point for this composition was a short a capella choral for four voices inspired by the Flemish polyphony of the 16th century and that can be heard at the end of the piece. \u201cFenestrae\u201d was recorded on the Baltic Guitar Quartet album \u201cTradicion Nuevo\u201d (2013).
\nPublished by Les Productions d’Oz
\nScore<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>four guitars<\/em>
\nIn \u201cGitana linda\u201d echoe sounds of modern flamenco. This composition includes an effective percussive middle part and leaves space for improvisation.\u00a0\u201cGitana linda\u201d was recorded on the Baltic Guitar Quartet album \u201cTradicion Nuevo\u201d (2013).
\nPublished by Les Productions d’Oz
\nScore and audio<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>four guitars
\n<\/em>Chris\u2019s first piece for the Baltic Guitar Quartet and one of the quartet\u2019s all time favorites. It appeared on the BGQ album Dancing with guitar (2008) and later again on “Tradicion nuevo” (2013) in an arrangement for four guitars, double bass and bansuri flute.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore and audio<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a><\/p>\n
\nguitar<\/em>
\nA dedication to the flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo.
\nPublished by Auurk ed.
\nScore and audio<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a><\/p>\n