- Additional Authors
- Found In
- Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
- Description
- 2 streaming audio files (59 minutes total) : digital, stereo
- Summary
- Streaming file 1, side a: Host John Gruen speaks about Merce Cunningham and introduces [Merce Cunningham Dance Company] dancer Chris Komar; Chris Komar speaks about the independence of the music and dance in Cunningham's works and how this creates a challenge to the focus of the audience; Gruen and Komar speak about Cunningham's interest in movement for its own sake; they continue to speak about the independence of elements in Cunningham's works and Komar describes Andy Warhol's pillows for Cunningham's RainForest (1968); Komar speaks about how the rhythms and movements in Cunningham's works can be seen more clearly because of the separation of dance and sound; how rehearsals are conducted in silence and why there is piano musical accompaniment to classes at the Cunningham Studio; they speak about how Cunningham's works are expressive through movement and rhythm; Komar speaks about the individual approaches of the Company dancers and the surprise elements built into Cunningham's works; changes in Cunningham's approach to choreography during the 8 years of Komar's tenure, for example Cunningham's earlier use of timing as compared to his later reliance on spatial patterning in Torse (1976); Gruen speaks about Cunningham's use of the I-Ching [Yi jing] for chance operations; Komar speaks about chance as a choreographic device for Cunningham to find new ideas; they speak about the challenge of transitions in Cunningham's choreography; Komar speaks about the multi-directional nature of Cunningham's works and how each dancer is "their own center"; the choreography of Dromenon (1947) as it relates to John Cage's music, Three dances (1944-45); [third part of Three dances, ca. 25:46-34:43]; Komar speaks about how Three dances is not representative of the type of music the Company currently uses, however it still represents the element of the unexpected in Cunningham's works; the experience of watching Cunningham's dances as a whole.
- Streaming file 2, side b: Host John Gruen announces the Merce Cunningham Dance Company performances at City Center, February 19 - March 2, 1980, including the American premiere performances of Locale, Roadrunners, and Duets; Chris Komar briefly describes Locale, Roadrunners, and Duets; they speak about recent touring of the [Merce Cunningham Dance] Company; Komar speaks about his background in music and lists other Company dancers who were once musicians; his more serious interest in dance after seeing a Cunningham performance; how the Cunningham technique classes further interested him as well as how reading Cunningham's Notes on choreography inspired him; teaching the Cunningham technique, especially its untraditional counting; what a potential new audience member might experience and expect in seeing the Cunningham Company; Gruen speaks about some of Cunningham's movement influences; Komar speaks briefly about Cunningham's solo in Rune (1959), especially how Cunningham "describes" space; more about how Cunningham addresses space and time in his works and how this is similar to the way musicians who work with Cunningham also deal with space and time in their compositions; Gruen concludes the show.
- Uniform Title
- Dromenon (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
- Sound of dance (Radio program)
- Alternative Title
- Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Audio materials.
- Subjects
- Genre/Form
- Modern dance music.
- Radio interviews.
- Note
- Host John Gruen interviews Chris Komar for broadcast on February 26, 1980, by radio station WNCN FM, New York, on its series the Sound of dance.
- Title, date and location provided by cataloger based on audition and handwritten and typed notes on original cassette and container.
- Handwritten note on original cassette: "The Sound of Dance #307 ; John Gruen with Chris Komar ; Stereo - B Dolby ; WNCN, NY". Typed note on original container: "Chris Komar on WNCN, NY - The Sound of Dance ; 26 Feb 1980".
- Sound quality is mostly good.
- Access (note)
- Patrons can access streaming audio only on site at NYPL Research Libraries.
- Source (note)
- Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation
- Linking Entry (note)
- Forms part of the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
- Call Number
- *LTC-A 1463
- OCLC
- 932895038
- Author
Komar, Chris, interviewee.
- Title
Interview with Chris Komar : on the Sound of dance (Radio program), WNCN, 1980-02-26.
- Publisher
February 26, 1980.
- Playing Time
003733 002044
- Type of Content
performed music
spoken word
- Type of Medium
audio
- Type of Carrier
audiocassette
online resource
- Digital File Characteristics
audio file
- Performer
Michael Tilson Thomas and Ralph Grierson, pianists.
- Event
Broadcast on WNCN radio station, New York, New York, 1980 February 26.
- Restricted Access
Patrons can access streaming audio only on site at NYPL Research Libraries.
- Original Version
Archival original: (1 audio cassette (59 minutes) : analog) in *LTC-A 1463.
- Linking Entry
Forms part of the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
- Local Note
Transferred from original analog cassette by George Blood Audio on March 26, 2015; two preservation files were created based on cassette sides.
- Source
Gift; Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, 2011-2012.
- Connect to:
- Added Author
Container of (work): Cage, John. Dances, pianos (2). Selections.
Grierson, Ralph, 1942- instrumentalist.
Gruen, John, host.
Tilson Thomas, Michael, 1944- instrumentalist.
WNCN (Radio station : New York, N.Y.), broadcaster.
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, donor.
- Added Title
Music for (work) : Dromenon (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
Sound of dance (Radio program)
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Audio materials.
- Found In:
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
- Research Call Number
*LTC-A 1463