Research Catalog

Interview with Ethel Butler

Title
Interview with Ethel Butler, 1977
Author
Butler, Ethel
Publication
1977

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors
Kendall, Elizabeth, 1947-
Description
3 streaming audio files (approximately two hours and 15 minutes): digital
Summary
  • Streaming audio file 1 (approximately 46 minutes). Ethel Butler speaks with Elizabeth Kendall about her childhood including her early attempts at choreography; taking class at the Neighborhood Playhouse including the powerful impression Graham made on her; studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse and subsequently joining Graham's company [Martha Graham Dance Company]; Graham technique; her affinity for Graham's work; the early Graham repertoire including Primitive mysteries; Louis Horst; her harmonious relations with Horst, Graham, and the other members of the company; her first season with the company; Graham's work Celebration; working with Graham in Death and entrances; an anecdote about Horst and his entertaining the dancers at rehearsals [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 2].
  • Streaming audio file 2 (approximately 46 minutes). Ethel Butler speaks with Elizabeth Kendall about Martha Graham's American provincials; Louis Horst's and Graham's influence on what she read; teaching, as Graham's assistant, at the Bennington College School of the Dance; (briefly) Erick Hawkins; her impressions of Merce Cunningham; Graham's works Frontier, Imperial gesture, and Horizons; Graham's good relationship with her production crew; other Graham works including Deep song and American documents; more on Graham technique [ends abruptly but continues on streaming audio file 3].
  • Streaming audio file 3 (approximately 43 minutes ). Ethel Butler speaks with Elizabeth Kendall about Graham technique including movements that are no longer taught; Graham's work Every soul is a circus including the symbolism with regard to Graham's relationship with Erick Hawkins; Graham's gift for satire; Merce Cunningham in El penitente; Louis Horst at rehearsals; Graham's working methods; her work Land be bright; the influence of Graham's family background on her Americana works; her reasons for leaving the company; her decision to retire from dancing; her thoughts on some more recent Graham works and on Graham's Greek period; her belief in the Graham technique.
Alternative Title
Dance Oral History Project.
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Interviews.
  • Sound recordings.
Note
  • For transcript of interview, see *MGZMT 3-426.
  • Interview with Ethel Butler conducted by Elizabeth Kendall on January 12, 1977, for the Oral History Project of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The location is not specified.
  • Title supplied by cataloger.
  • Sound quality is fair. The recording is marred by extraneous noise and short gaps. Also, at times the speakers' voices are soft. However, for the most part the voices are easily intelligible.
Funding (note)
  • 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.
Call Number
*MGZTCO 3-426
OCLC
81359114
Author
Butler, Ethel, interviewee.
Title
Interview with Ethel Butler, 1977
Production
1977
Type of Content
spoken word
Type of Medium
audio
Type of Carrier
online resource
Digital File Characteristics
audio file
Event
Recorded by Elizabeth Kendall 1977, January 12
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.
Original Version
Original format: two sound cassettes (approximately two hours and 15 minutes); quarter track; 1.875 ips; transferred to wav file and streaming file format in 2015: myd_mgztco3426_v01f01_sc, myd_mgztco3426_v01f02_sc, and myd_mgztco3426_v02f01_sc.
Local Note
Former class mark: *MGZTC 3-426
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Added Author
Kendall, Elizabeth, 1947- interviewer.
Research Call Number
*MGZTCO 3-426
View in Legacy Catalog