Research Catalog

Interview with Isamu Noguchi

Title
Interview with Isamu Noguchi, 1979
Author
Noguchi, Isamu, 1904-1988
Publication
1979

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors
Tobias, Tobi
Description
Four streaming audio files (approximately two hours and 39 minutes): digital
Summary
  • 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.
Alternative Title
Dance Oral History Project.
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Interviews.
  • Sound recordings.
Note
  • For transcript of interview, see *MGZMT 3-558.
  • 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.
  • Sound quality is good overall.
  • Title supplied by cataloger.
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 3-558
OCLC
81722293
Author
Noguchi, Isamu, 1904-1988, intervewee.
Title
Interview with Isamu Noguchi, 1979
Production
1979
Type of Content
spoken word
spoken word
Type of Medium
audio
audio
Type of Carrier
audiocassette
online resource
Digital File Characteristics
audio file
Event
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.
Original Version
Original format: two sound cassettes (approximately two hours and 39 minutes); quarter-track; 1.875 ips; transferred to wav file and streaming file format (myd_mgztco3558_v01f01_sc, myd_mgztco3558_v01f02_sc, myd_mgztco3558_v02f01_sc, andmyd_mgztco3558_v02f02_sc) in 2015.
Local Note
Former call number: *MGZTC 3-558
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Added Author
Tobias, Tobi, interviewer.
Research Call Number
*MGZTCO 3-558
View in Legacy Catalog