Other Dances, Other Dancers (2001 - 2008)
This collection of commissioned dance works highlights four of Christian’s favorite dances and dancers with whom he’s collaborated in recent years. None of these works have appeared on earlier commercial releases.
The first three tracks of this collection comprise Peniel, a score commissioned by Lizzie Leopold for the Leopold Dance Group, that premiered in Chicago in June of 2008. Lizzie and Christian previously collaborated on Visiting Hours, the movements for which you can hear on Christian’s CD, Na Razie, bez Ciebie (tracks 1,2,4). Peniel was recorded, mixed, and mastered by John Stites of Arcadia Recording Studio and produced by Christian Matjias
Track four, Tres Para Uno a Cinco, was commissioned by Gail Gilbert and premiered by Moving People Dance Theater of Santa Fe, New Mexico in June 2005. It was later set on the company of the LINES Ballet School. Tres Para Uno a Cinco was mixed and produced by Christian Matjias
Tell Me Where to Go was commissioned and danced by Heather Vaughan-Southard in April of 2005. An image from this dance serves as the cover for this collection. Tell Me Where to Go was mixed and produced by Christian Matjias
The final track dates from 2001. Catch, Hold, Save was commissioned and danced by Corinne Imberski. Catch, Hold, Save was recorded, mixed, and produced by Christian Matjias.
Christian Matjias is one of the leading Dance / Music Specialists in the field, and an Associate Professor of Dance and Music at the University of Michigan. A native of Los Angeles, he attended the University of Southern California, earning degrees in Harpsichord and Early Music Performance, with secondary studies in Conducting. Intending to become a vocal accompanist and opera repetiteur, he instead became one of the most active dance musicians in Southern California prior his 1991 move to Michigan. As both performer and scholar, he is sought out by dancers across fields seeking to collaborate on choreography, technique classes, in addition to consulting on musical matters as relates to the staging of classical ballets. He has worked with, among others, the Balanchine Trust, Balanchine Foundation, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, TUDance, Leopold Dance Group, and has played for Maria Tallchief, Edward Villella, Eliot Feld, Gail Gilbert, and numerous dancers for New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance Company, David Parsons Dance Company, Cullberg Ballet, Jose Limon Dance Company, Jose Greco Dance Company, Boston Ballet, and Martha Graham Dance Company. Christian’s versatility also encompasses the vocal and instrumental repertory. He’s served as repetiteur for productions of La Boheme, Carmina Burana and The Cradle Will Rock, as well as having performed with legendary cult avant-garde musician, Jandek.
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