Citation/Reference: For transcript of interview, see *MGZMT 3-558.
Content: Interview with Isamu Noguchi conducted by Tobi Tobias on January 17 and in February, 1979, at Noguchi's home and studio in Long Island City, New York, for the Oral History Project of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Source Characteristics: Sound quality is good overall.
Bibliographic History: Title supplied by cataloger.
Venue: Recorded byTobi Tobias 1979, January 17 and February Long Island City 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 Description

Extent: 2 audio cassettes (approximately 2 hr., 39 min.) ; quarter-track; 1.875 ips

Abstract

Streaming audio file 1, January 17, 1979 (approximately 46 minutes). Isamu Noguchi speaks with Tobi Tobias about Martha Graham, including their first meeting, through Ito Michio; his impressions of Graham including from his point of view as a sculptor; his two portrait heads of Graham including her criticism of the first one; their collaborations including: Chronicle; El penitente; and Frontier; Doris Humphrey and his sculpting of her head [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 2]. Streaming audio file 2, January 17, 1979 (approximately 46 minutes). Isamu Noguchi talks about his collaboration with Ruth Page on her work Bells for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; more on his collaborating with Martha Graham including how effectively she communicated her ideas; her work Hérodiade; reasons he no longer designs for the theater [from approximately 21:30 to 22:30, the volume of the recording drops significantly]; his designs and Graham's use of space; the divergence in his and Graham's respective styles over the years; George Balanchine's ballet Orpheus; his collaboration on Graham's Cortege of eagles including reasons he found it unsatisfactory; Japanese gardens, the illusion of space, and the concept of leisure space; Graham's work Dark meadow [ends abruptly]. Streaming audio file 3, February, 1979 (approximately 48 minutes). Isamu Noguchi speaks with Tobi Tobias about George Balanchine's work Orpheus including revisions made to the set and costumes for the current revival; creating the set and costumes for the original production including the concepts behind his designs; his thoughts on the dancing in the current revival including [Mikhail] Baryshnikov's performance; his collaborations with Martha Graham on Diversion of angels, Circe, Acrobats of God, and Seraphic dialogue [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 4]. Streaming audio file 4, February, 1979 (approximately 19 minutes). Isamu Noguchi speaks with Tobi Tobias about his collaboration with Martha Graham on Seraphic dialogue including the assistance of his friend Edison Throckmorton; her work Clytemnestra; his interest in transformations; the relationship between his dance-related work and his art as a whole.

Languages

English

Identifiers

RLIN/OCLC: 81722293
NYPL Catalog ID (bnumber): b12118363
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): ec994990-78bd-0136-3559-04348a8f1584

Access

Rights

This 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).

Type Of Resource

Sound Recording

Cite this item

MLA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Interview with Isamu Noguchi, 1979" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1979. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ec994990-78bd-0136-3559-04348a8f1584

APA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. (1979). Interview with Isamu Noguchi, 1979 Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ec994990-78bd-0136-3559-04348a8f1584

Chicago/Turabian Format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Interview with Isamu Noguchi, 1979" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed December 9, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ec994990-78bd-0136-3559-04348a8f1584

Wikipedia citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ec994990-78bd-0136-3559-04348a8f1584 | title= (sound recording) Interview with Isamu Noguchi, 1979 (1979) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=December 9, 2025 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>