Research Catalog

Ralph Taylor speaks about Louis Horst.

Title
Ralph Taylor speaks about Louis Horst. May 20, 1989.
Author
Taylor, Ralph, 1904-
Publication
1989

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors
Soares, Janet Mansfield
Description
2 streaming files (approximately one hour and 36 minutes) : digital, stereo
Summary
  • Streaming file 1 (approximately 48 minutes). [Begins abruptly.] Ralph Taylor speaks with Janet Mansfield Soares about Louis Horst: topics include an anecdote about Martha Graham and Horst's dog, Max; others who knew Horst at the time; Horst's death including his testamentary arrangements; Nina [Fonaroff]; the disposition of his property and of his ashes; various reminiscences of Horst including his romantic relationships with his students and his ability to bring out a dancer's best qualities; the ending of Horst's and Graham's romantic relationship; Horst's disapproval of Graham's marriage to Erik Hawkins; Taylor's impressions of Hawkins; an anecdote about Graham and Horst's reputed promiscuity; and the Dance Observer [ends abruptly].
  • Streaming file 2, (approximately 48 minutes). Ralph Taylor continues to speak with Janet Mansfield Soares about the Dance Observer and Louis Horst: topics include modern dance and communist ideology; Horst's antipathy to communism; Martha Graham as apolitical; Horst's writings on pre-classic forms; Horst's classes; Taylor's belief that Graham modeled her speaking style on that of Ruth St. Denis; Taylor's idolization of Graham; Harald Kreutzberg; Graham and dance in Germany at the time; Horst's contributions to Graham technique; learning about music from Horst; what Taylor describes as the commodification of Graham; an anecdote about Horst, Arnold Schoenberg, and Graham; Horst as a concert pianist [the final approximate 1:50 of recording is almost completely unintelligible].
Subjects
Note
  • Ralph Taylor speaks about Louis Horst with Janet Mansfield Soares on May 20, 1989, in his apartment in New York City. The interview was conducted as research for Soares' book, Louis Horst: Musician in a dancer's world, 1992. At least two other people are sometimes present and occasionally contribute to the conversation. At times, it sounds as if books and photographs are being consulted and commented on.
  • Title supplied by cataloger.
  • Sound quality is fair to poor. The recording is marred by fluctuating sound levels and extraneous noise including static and "tape hiss" as well as occasional short gaps. At times, the speakers' voices are unintelligible, especially in the first seven minutes of streaming file 1 and last two minutes of streaming file 2.
Access (note)
  • Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, at Lincoln Center.
Funding (note)
  • The 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.
  • 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.
Source (note)
  • Janet Mansfield Soares
OCLC
892969647
Author
Taylor, Ralph, 1904- interviewee.
Title
Ralph Taylor speaks about Louis Horst. May 20, 1989.
Production
1989
Type of Content
spoken word
Type of Medium
audio
Type of Carrier
online resource
Digital File Characteristics
audio file
Restricted Access
Patrons may access streaming audio only on site at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, at Lincoln Center.
Event
Recorded by Janet Mansfield Soares 1989, May 20 New York (N.Y.)
Funding
The 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.
Original Version
Original format: one sound cassette (approximately one hour and 36 hours); 1.875 ips.; transferred to wav file and streaming file formats in 2014
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.
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Added Author
Soares, Janet Mansfield, interviewer.
Soares, Janet Mansfield, donor
View in Legacy Catalog