TitleInterview with Merce Cunningham: on After eight (Radio program), WNYC radio, 1988-02
Additional title: After eight (Radio program)
NamesMerce Cunningham Dance Company (Associated name)Cunningham, Merce (Interviewee)Shear, Nancy (Interviewer)Shear, Nancy (Host)Behrman, David (Composer)Cage, John (Composer)Satie, Erik, 1866-1925 (Composer)WNYC (Radio station : New York, N.Y.) (Broadcaster)
CollectionMerce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Audio materials
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1988-02 (Questionable)
Library locationsRodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded SoundShelf locator: *LTC-A 1449
TopicsCage, John. RoaratorioCunningham, MerceKosugi, Takehisa, 1938-Tudor, David, 1926-1996Merce Cunningham Dance CompanyCredo in us (Choreographic work : Cunningham and Erdman)RainForest (Choreographic work : Cunningham)Roaratorio (Choreographic work : Cunningham)Septet (Choreographic work : Cunningham)ChoreographyComputer musicElectronic and violin musicModern dance musicMusic and dancePiano music (4 hands)Piano with percussion ensembleBehrman, David. Interspecies smalltalkCage, John. Credo in us. SelectionsSatie, Erik, 1866-1925. Morceaux en forme de poire
GenresInterviewsRadio programs
NotesContent: Contains an interview with Merce Cunningham by Nancy Shear on After eight (Radio program) broadcast on WNYC radio.Content: Title and location provided by cataloger based on typed and handwritten notes on original container and cassette, and audition. Date provided by cataloger based on performances mentioned in the recording.Content: Typed note on original container: "WNYC Interview with M.C. excerpt from 'Creto [Credo] in Us'". Handwritten note on original cassette: "Dub of "After Eight" Merce Cunningham". Printed label on original cassette: "WNYC ; AM83 ; FM94 ; TV31 ; [address] ; C92".Venue: Broadcast on WNYC FM, New York, NY, [1988 February?].Acquisition: Gift; Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, 2011-2012.
Physical DescriptionAudiocassetteExtent: 1 audiocassette (67 minutes) : analogSound quality is good.
DescriptionStreaming file 1, side 1: Begins abruptly, excerpt from John Cage's Credo in us (1942), ca. 0:00-4:05; Merce Cunningham speaks with After eight host, [Nancy Shear], about corresponding with Cage over the score for Credo in us (1942), his collaborative dance with Jean Erdman; Cunningham speaks about Cage's use of the choreographic structure for Credo to create his percussion based composition; Cunningham's preference that the accompaniment to his works be called "music" rather than "sounds" as suggested by the host; Cunningham introduces David Tudor's Rainforest no. 1 (1968), announces the upcoming Merce Cunningham Dance Company performances at the Joyce Theater, and describes the Andy Warhol pillows that are props for his RainForest (1968); [recording break, ca. 12:28]; Cunningham speaks about how his dancers don't rely on the music in rehearsal and often first hear the music in performances; he speaks about how the composers work independently in creating the music for his works including how Cage often asks for the choreographic structures; Cunningham speaks about the revival of his Septet (1953); the music for Septet, Erik Satie's Trois morceaux en forme de poire (1903), ca. 20:05-32:08; Cunningham speaks about the suprise element in hearing the music for the first time during performance, especially in working with the live electronic music created by his Company musicians David Tudor and Takehisa Kosugi; how Kosugi and Tudor listen for acoustic sounds in each performance space while on tour; he speaks about touring venues and stage space especially the flexibility of his Events as performances in unique spaces; he speaks about his dance works on video, especially why he is interested in using video as another medium; Cunningham introduces and speaks about Cage's Roaratorio; an Irish circus on Finnegans Wake (1979), the music for his Roaratorio (1986); he speaks about his choreography for Roaratorio as well as the spaces where it can be performed; ends abruptly.
Streaming file 2, side 2: Begins abruptly, Merce Cunningham continues to speak with host [Nancy Shear] about Roaratorio; [recording break, ca. 0:25]; Cunningham speaks about how his use of chance operations in choreography differ from improvisation; he speaks about his work is open to interpretation by an audience, as well as by his dancers; he speaks about accuracy in movement and choreographic notes; his opinion on the reproduction of his dance works and his legacy; he speaks about the pleasure he gains from dancing, the unique requirements of being a professional dancer, and ways that his aging body impact how he choreographs; Cunningham introduces David Behrman's Interspecies smalltalk, music for his Pictures (1984); Shear announces the upcoming Merce Cunningham Dance Company performances at the Joyce Theater; Interspecies smalltalk, ca. 11:00-20:31.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 914477088NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b20750238Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 9afccf30-b906-0133-9d8c-60f81dd2b63c
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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