released September 28, 2019

PERFORMERS
Alyssa Anderson, Laurel Armstrong, Rush Benson, David Burk, Sarah Callahan, Falicia Cunningham, Randall Davidson, Jake Endres (music director), Annie Frazier, Jeffrey Gram, Dean Hawthorne, Julie Johnson, Scott Keever, Natalie Nowytski (composer), Tim O’Keefe, Amanda Schnabel, David Stenshoel, Erin Vork, Ginna Watson.

Music by Natalie Nowytski ©2019
Lyrics by Natalie Nowytski ©2019, except:
18: lyrics by Rush Benson, Laurel Armstrong, & Megan Burns
20, 23, 24: lyrics by Megan Burns
Dialogue by Laurel Armstrong & Megan Burns

Produced by Natalie Nowytski & Reid Kruger
Engineered by Steve Kaul & Josh Parlanti at Wild Sound Recording Studio
Mastered by Greg Reierson at Rare Form Mastering
Designed by Natalie Nowytski at Renaissance Jane
Liner notes by Laurel Armstrong & Natalie Nowytski

"East of the Sun" was conceptualized by Seven Spells Productions (Laurel Armstrong, Natalie Nowytski, and Amanda Schnabel), based on the Nordic folk tale, "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," with early contributions from Megan Burns, Shanan Custer, and Melissa Leilani Larson and narrative guidance from Ben Krywosz at Nautilus Music Theater.

Natalie Nowytski is a fiscal year 2019 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State’s arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

"Music from East of the Sun" was made possible by a grant from the American Composers Forum with funds provided by the Jerome Foundation.

THANKS
The "East of the Sun" project officially launched five years before the release of this album, and its development will continue in the years to come.

From Natalie: Thanks to Laurel Armstrong for sprouting the seed of this idea nearly a decade ago, watering it, tending it, and weeding it so that it could continue to grow. Thanks to Amanda Schnabel for your clever and creative dramaturgy, infectious spirit, and non-stop organizational skills. You two are incredible creative collaborators! Thanks to my husband, Scott Keever, who has not only been a musical contributor live and on this album, but who also has selflessly supported this work personally in ways that only another composer/musician would understand—I do not take that gift for granted. Thanks to my family for establishing early on the importance of art in a well-rounded life. To Steve Kaul and Josh Parlanti at Wild Sound, thanks for being tremendous production partners throughout the recording and mixing process; you were not only exacting in your work, but you also made this project so fun! To Reid Kruger, thanks for your guidance and perspective during post-production; I always learn something new when we work on a project together. To Greg Reierson, your masterful mastering proves why you’re considered the master! To Jake Endres, I couldn’t have asked for a better conduit for my music or a more encouraging friend than you; thank you for giving this project such wings. Finally, thanks to all the dynamic performers on this album and who have performed this music live: You brought these pieces to life in ways I couldn’t have dreamed; I’m eternally grateful for your artistry
and friendship!

From Seven Spells Productions: Thanks to the American Composers Forum and the Jerome foundation, who awarded Natalie a JFund for New Music in 2014 that made it possible to begin work on our production. Thanks also to the Minnesota State Arts Board—and, by extension, the voters of Minnesota and the volunteer grant panelists—who awarded Natalie an Artist Initiative Grant in 2019, making the live music premiere in September 2019 possible. We’re also thankful to Ben Krywosz and Nautilus Music Theater for their partnership and fiscal sponsorship; Nautilus was among the first to co-present our initial public workshops through its “Rough Cuts” series. To Joe Chvala, Karla Grotting, and the Flying Foot Forum, thanks for setting the stage for this creative partnership, supporting early workshops, contributing artistically, and providing a platform for sharing our progress through New Works Nights. Thank you to Ruth MacKenzie for her mentorship when we first began this project. Thanks also to our early creative contributors/partners Melissa Leilani Larson, Shanan Custer, Megan Burns, Brian Evans, and Kimberly Richardson. Many thanks to individual financial contributors via Chuffed and elsewhere to our fundraising efforts—you have made additional public workshops possible. Thanks to our families and friends who have not only provided moral support and honest feedback, but who also have willingly given hands-on help with workshops, promotion, and rehearsals. Finally, thanks to all of the creative beings who have brought the music, choreography, and script to life through the workshopping process. We count ourselves very lucky, and we continue to look ahead to more wonderful collaborations to come!

All tracks ©2019 Manio Music (ASCAP)