Album Notes

Listed on CD Baby’s “Top Albums” list in 2008 & 2009 and favorably reviewed in past Dance Magazine issues, San Francisco Ballet pianist Jamie Narushchen unveils his new, 51-track ballet class CD of original music that is a must-have this fall!

About Narushchen Sunrise: Best Original Music From His Morning Ballet Classes:

Before he starts his day at SF Ballet, Jamie Narushchen rises early to play and improvise music for a morning ballet class at a nearby dance studio. Known for his vast harmonic vocabulary and punchy rhythms, it’s no surprise that Narushchen produced another 51 tracks in less than a year. Whether it’s exercises that roll on ragtime syncopation or harmonies that echo Ravel and Bill Evans, Narushchen Sunrise offers some of Jamie’s most spirited improvisations that were captured live during the recording.

Notes: Exercises are printed on the back of the case and on its one-page CD insert. A Hamburg Steinway concert grand piano was used during the recording.

EXERCISES:

1 Warm Up 3/4 96m
2 Plie 3/4 128m (both sides + more)
3 Slow Tendu 4/4 32m
4 Tendu 2/4 64m
5 Tendu w/Temps lie 3/4 64m
6 Quick Tendu 2/4 64m
7 Degage 2/4 64m + 32m (w/balance or stretch)
8 Fast Degage 6/8 32m
9 Rond de jambe a terre 3/4 64m
10 Fondu 2/4 64m
11 Tango 2/4 80m
12 Frappe 2/4 64m
13 Rond de jambe en l’air 3/4 48m (flat, releve)
14 Petit battement 2/4 64
15 Serre 4/8 32m
16 Battement en cloche 3/4 32m
17 Developpe 4/4 64m (both sides)
18 Grand battement 4/4 32m (both sides)
19 Port de bras 3/4 64m
20 Releve 2/4 80m

Center

21 Adagio I 6/8 32m
22 Adagio II 3/4 64m
23 Center Tendu 4/4 32m
24 Balance 3/4 160m
25 Hungarian Dance ¾ 80m
26 Pirouettes (waltz) 96m
27 Pirouettes (march) 96m
28 Grand battement 3/4 64m
29 Polka 80m
30 Slow Mazurka 48m
31 Quick Mazurka 64m
32 Polonaise 32m
33 Port de bras 36m 3/4
34 Italian Fouette turns 3/4 64m
35 Center Fondu 3/4 32m
36 First jump 2/4 64m
37 Second jump 2/4 116m
38 Third jump 2/4 128m
39 Sissonne Ouvert 2/4 32m
40 Sissonne Ferme 6/8 32m
41 Big Waltz 3/4 160m
42 Galop 96m
43 Coda I 2/4 64m
44 Coda II 2/4 64m
45 Grand Allegro I 3/4 80m
46 Grand allegro II 3/4 164m
47 Maneges 128m
48 Hops on pointe 2/4 48m
49 Prep for turns on pointe 2/4 48m
50 Chaines turns 2/4 40m
51 Reverence 3/4 48m

About The Musician:

Jamie Narushchen was born and raised in Minneapolis and began studying piano with his grandmother at age six. He studied piano performance at Johns Hopkins' Peabody Conservatory, and he joined The San Francisco Ballet as an accompanist shortly after moving out west. His strong interest in improvisation led him to take additional coursework in composition at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Throughout his twenty-four years at SF Ballet, he has regularly provided accompaniment for the West Coast auditions held by The American Ballet Theatre, The Julliard School, The Boston Ballet and others. He also enjoys the opportunity to play for Mark Morris's and Suzanne Farrell's classes when they visit the Bay Area. When he's not playing the piano, he's usually at home playing with his kids.