TitleDavid Vaughan speaks about the Merce Cunningham Dance Company on WNCN radio
NamesMerce Cunningham Dance Company (Associated name)Vaughan, David, 1924- (Interviewee)Lowenstein, Ralph (Interviewer)Brooklyn Academy of Music (Associated name)WNCN (Radio station : New York, N.Y.) (Host)
CollectionMerce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Audio materials
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1973-03-20 - 1973-03-22
Library locationsRodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded SoundShelf locator: *LT-7-A 2352
TopicsCunningham, MerceVaughan, David, 1924-Merce Cunningham Dance CompanyCanfield (Choreographic work : Cunningham)Event (Choreographic work : Cunningham)ChoreographyDance -- Production and direction
GenresRadio commercialsInterviewsAdvertising
NotesContent: Title provided by cataloger based on audition and typed note on original container.Content: Three interviews with David Vaughan conducted by Ralph Lowenstein of WNCN Radio station about the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's performances on March 22-25, 1973, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.Content: Typed note on original container: "David Vaughan (For Merce Cunningham) with Ralph Lowenstein ; Cut 1: 6:05PM, Tues., 3/20, 8' 10" ; Cut 2: 1:05PM, Wed., 3/21, 9:00 ; Cut 3: 6:45PM, Thurs., 3/22, 9:53".Venue: Broadcast on WNCN Radio station, New York, New York, 1973 March 20, 21, 22Acquisition: Gift; Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, 2011-2012.
Physical DescriptionAudiotape reelExtent: 1 audiotape reel (33 minutes) : analog, half track, mono ; 7 in.
Description(0:00-8:09) Cut 1: David Vaughan speaks with radio announcer Ralph Lowenstein on March 20, 1973, for WNCN FM radio, about the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's upcoming performances [March 22-25, 1973] of Events, numbers 65, 66, 67, and 68, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music; briefly, Merce Cunningham's choreographic approach to Events, including his use of excerpts from the Company repertory; the circumstances of the original "museum event" in 1964; examples of subsequent performances of the Events; Cunningham's incorporation of each specific performance site for an Event; the dancer's job to quickly assemble the choreography from separate works for Events; briefly, the live music, composers and musicians, for the Events to be performed at BAM; Cunningham's working methods, especially his separation of dance from a musical score or a storyline; Lowenstein makes a final announcement about the performances.
(8:13-17:17) Cut 2: David Vaughan speaks with radio announcer Ralph Lowenstein on March 21, 1973 for WNCN FM radio, about the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's upcoming performances [March 22-25, 1973] of Events, numbers 65, 66, 67, and 68, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music; the unique, assemblage type nature of the Events, including examples of the new choreography by Cunningham in the Events; the Company's residency and relationship with BAM; the Company's touring and performance plans for after the BAM performances; changes of personnel in the Company, especially Carolyn Brown's recent retirement from the Company; briefly lists others who had left the Company, especially those that pursued their own choreography; Cunningham's interest in using no storyline and the possibility for an audience's open interpretation of his choreography; briefly, the discipline and technique of modern dance, especially in Cunningham's classes and choreography; Cunningham's separation of choreography from musical interpretation and the Company's use of live music in performances; Vaughan lists the musicians in the upcoming performances; Lowenstein makes a final announcement about the performances.
(17:21-27:16) Cut 3: David Vaughan speaks with radio announcer Ralph Lowenstein on March 22, 1973, for WNCN FM radio, about the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's upcoming performances [March 22-25, 1973] of Events, numbers 65, 66, 67, and 68, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music; a brief description of the original "museum event" in 1964 at the Museum of the 20th Century, Vienna [Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts]; the use of excerpts from the Company's repertory to comprise Events; Events as a choreographic solution to the unknown circumstances that arise during the Company's tours; the origin of the title for Cunningham's dance Canfield; briefly, more on how Cunningham names his works; briefly, Cunningham's use of chance methods in choreography; briefly, how the Company's dancers learn without music and memorize large amounts of choreography; the Company dancers' mental concentration in order to assemble and reorder sections of the repertory for Events; briefly, Cunningham's use of a stopwatch for sections of his choreography in rehearsal, and agreed upon time limits with the musicians for the work as a whole; Lowenstein makes a final announcement about the performances.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 880674515NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b20211235Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 8c815b50-b3fa-0133-5f5e-3c07547a230f
Rights StatementThis item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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