TitleInterview with Marie Marchowsky, 1979
NamesMarchowsky, Marie, 1916-1997 (Interviewee)Caplan, Laura (Interviewer)
CollectionDance Oral History Project
Dates / OriginDate Created: 1979-01-11Date Created: 1979-02-01
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZTCO 3-460
TopicsGraham, MarthaHorst, LouisMarchowsky, Marie, 1916-1997 -- InterviewsMartha Graham Dance CompanyPrimitive mysteries (Choreographic work : Graham)Politics in artModern dance -- Technique
GenresOral historiesInterviews
NotesAdditional physical form: For transcript of interview, see *MGZMT 3-460.Content: Interview with Marie Marchowsky conducted by Laura Caplan on January 11 and February 1 for the Oral History Project of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, in New York City.Bibliographic history: Title supplied by cataloger.Source characteristics: Sound quality is good overall. However, at times, Laura Caplan's voice and, sometimes that of Marie Marchowsky's as well, are soft and difficult to understand.Venue: Recorded for the Jerome Robbins Dance Division Oral History Project 1979, January 11 and February 1 New York (N.Y.)Funding: The conservation and cataloging of this recording was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The support of the National Endowment for the Arts is also gratefully acknowledged.
Physical DescriptionAudiocassetteExtent: 3 audio cassettes (approximately 3 hr., 20 min.)
DescriptionStreaming audio file 1 (approximately 47 minutes). January 11, 1979. Marie Marchowsky speaks with Laura Caplan about her early dance training including with Lily Mehlman; the enormous impact she felt upon seeing Graham's work for the first time; studying at Graham's school; performing with the company [Martha Graham Dance Company] in Graham's work Primitive mysteries; working with Graham including her clarity as to what she wanted; Graham's early work including its extensive use of percussion; early Graham technique; what it was like to be a company member including her wide exposure to art and literature; more on early Graham technique including as compared to the more lyrical technique of today; teaching the technique [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 2].
Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 47 minutes ). Marie Marchowsky speaks with Laura Caplan about Graham technique and the body type it requires; reviving and performing in Primitive mysteries; studying composition with Louis Horst; the abundance of choreographic activity at the time; the left-leaning tendencies of artists during the 1930s, including as reflected in their work; reminiscences of Graham [ends abruptly].
Streaming audio file 3 (approximately 47 minutes ). Marie Marchowsky speaks with Laura Caplan about the relationship among the different modern dance choreographers of the time; Graham and ballet including the influence on Graham of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo's popularity in the United States; Marchowsky's reasons for studying ballet after she left Graham's company; modern dance as the communication of ideas; Erick Hawkins and his relationship with the company members; Helen Tamiris; Marchowsky's decision to leave the company including how it was influenced by her role in Graham's Every soul is a circus; her professional activities after leaving the company including choreographing and performing with her own company; how living in Europe influenced her and her work; her choreographic process including its foundation in images [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 4].
Streaming audio file 4 (approximately 8 minutes ). Marie Marchowsky speaks with Laura Caplan about Martha Graham and the development of triplets; Graham's work American document.
Streaming audio file 5 (approximately 48 minutes ). February 1, 1979. Marie Marchowsky speaks with Laura Caplan about Martha Graham including the development of her technique; the stark and shocking nature of Graham's dances compared to other dance at the time and typical audience responses; Graham's use of images to direct her dancers; the complete commitment of the company members to Graham and her company; the education she received by being a company member; Louis Horst and Graham's relationship with him; Graham's school including its function as a source of income; Graham's use of the floor and horizontal space; Graham's assimilation of ancient, ritual movements into her work; her struggle to change the perception of dance as a form of entertaintment to that of an art form; dance as communication including the reasons for her dissatisfaction with much of the modern dance of today [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 6].
Streaming audio file 6 (approximately 10 minutes ). Marie Marchowsky speaks with Laura Caplan about modern dance choreography including the influence of new technology; the persistance of art.
Type of ResourceSound recording
LanguagesEnglish
IdentifiersRLIN/OCLC: 78045809NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b12118237Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): c8469660-7be6-0136-d8c1-035e041d62d6
Rights StatementThe New York Public Library holds or manages the copyright(s) in this item. If you need information about reusing this item, please go to: http://nypl.org/permissions
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