Stretch and Breathe (music for Graham based and other dance technique classes)

by Geoffrey Armes

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1.	Ambient Stretch 02:05	buy track
2.	Bounces into Breathings 02:44	buy track
3.	Pearl's 01:18	buy track
4.	Threes 02:59	buy track
5.	Contractions 01:42	buy track
6.	Anything Stretches 04:15	buy track
7.	Deep Stretches Feet Into Breathing Three 03:15	buy track
8.	Long Lean 01:14	buy track
9.	4th in 4 01:55	buy track
10.	Turns Around the Back in 3 02:18	buy track
11.	Back Leg 4th in 3 02:12	buy track
12.	Back Leg Extension with Extra Pleading 02:51	buy track
13.	Fast Feet 01:54	buy track
14.	Fast Plie 02:19	buy track
15.	Deep Plie 05:07	buy track
16.	Jump 02:11	buy track
17.	Travelling 03:36	buy track
18.	Ambient Stretch 10 01:35	buy track
19.	Three Blue 04:22	buy track
20.	Only You (drumadub) 03:13	buy track
21.	Market 05:20	buy track

about

My modern (Graham based technique) dance class accompaniment CD. Instruments used are voice, piano, guitars and percussion. The last three tracks are from the 'Red' sessions, but entirely appropriate for movement!
Over the years of accompanying modern dance, and composing for the same I was often asked why I didn't produce a CD of music especially for the technique class. On a couple of occasions notable teachers from the Martha Graham world (Thea Barnes, Kazuko Hirayabashi) took me into the studio and we produced rather hasty solo piano tapes and CDs around their particular syllabuses. Then I took a hiatus from the whole business, preferring to focus on writing about music and spending time with my daughter. Year 2000 found me back in the fray, and I decided to do something about the requests. Trusty Casette 4-Track Tascam in hand, I took Greek dancer/choreographer Penny Dimitopoulou and myself to the booming halls of the Subud Chelsea Center where I wailed on djembes, dumbeks and talking drums, as well as improvised on the battered baby-grand piano (an instrument entirely reminiscent of so many I had played whole classes on in the past). Then I went home, and added more: vocals, udu, guitars and bass. The third stage was a visit to Quentin, over at his then embryonic MediaNoise, whose skill with mastering software brought the recording-quality up to standard. Since then I've made the CD available on an ad-hoc basis, with differing sets of artwork, and I am now doing so again.
Some of the dance groups I have worked with include: In London -- Laban Centre, London Contemporary Dance, Rambert Academy. In Germany -- Ellys, Tanz-Akademie Koeln. In Rotterdam -- Dans Akademie. In New York -- Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor.