Yan Liang

Yan Liang is a composer whose work explores ritual, mysticism, alchemical symbolism, and the thresholds where sound behaves as trace, omen, residue, or invocation.

Toward things only approachable by negation and paradox.

Shortcut

Listen Short bio
As above, so below

Selected Works

Gennaio, from the Parma Baptistery, as shown on Yan Liang’s artist website
Gennaio,
Public domain. Source: Parma Baptistery
0:00 / 8:20

Nigredo VII :Until the Water Be Made Black

Flute, violin, cello, and piano · 2026

Nigredo VII: Until the Water Be Made Black, title pageNigredo VII: Until the Water Be Made Black, score sample 1Nigredo VII: Until the Water Be Made Black, score sample 2Nigredo VII: Until the Water Be Made Black, score sample 3Nigredo VII: Until the Water Be Made Black, score sample 4
Sample Scores
1 / 5

And

Mosaic work by Yan Liang accompanying Nigredo VI
Mosaic work by Yan Liang
0:00 / 9:18

Nigredo VI :Chromatic Black

Violin, cello, and piano · 2026

Nigredo VI: Chromatic Black, title pageNigredo VI: Chromatic Black, score sample 1Nigredo VI: Chromatic Black, score sample 2Nigredo VI: Chromatic Black, score sample 3Nigredo VI: Chromatic Black, score sample 4
Sample Scores
1 / 5
Selected Works
Concise works index

Yan Liang is a Montréal-based composer working across instrumental, electroacoustic, and transdisciplinary practices, while concentrating on chamber music.

Her work engages ritual, mysticism, alchemical symbolism, and perceptual liminality, among which her ongoing Nigredo cycle explores the blackening stage of alchemy through subtle and restrained processes of transformation.

Blue-toned oil painting by Yan Liang, first framing
Hush—
Blue-toned oil painting by Yan Liang, second framing
Whisper—
Blue-toned oil painting by Yan Liang, third framing
A language of silence—

Oil Painting © Yan Liang

Liang works with her mentor Philippe Leroux at McGill. Her music has been presented across North America and Europe at festivals including Time of Music, Sounds of Now Vienna, highSCORE, .abeceda, Tuckamore, and Le Vivier, by artists like Quasars Ensemble, Quatuor Mémoire, Trio Kanon, 5ilience, and Off-Topic, with forthcoming projects with individual artists, the Ensemble Cairn, and impuls Academy.

In 2026, her work was selected for Petites Formes — TPMC / IRCAM, and Nigredo V: Black Sun Escape was a finalist in the 4th MusicON International Composition Competition.

Complete Biography

The art of effective dreaming
for metaphysical minds.

Don't be afraid to claim mysticism.