Re: Partch and Choreography

Partch had problems with two well-known choreographers -Martha Graham
and Alwin Nikolais. Nikolais must have resolved some of the problems
because I saw his ensemble do a stunning dance to a tape of Castor and
Pollux in Zellerbach Hall at UCB around 1970-71.

Ben Johnston recounted some of the problems HP had with MG and AN in one
of his tributes to Harry.

--John

Yes although if I remember correctly Partch never met Martha Graham. Ben Tells me Partch was always bitter about Nikolais. In fact, and this might be less well known, the original performance of the bewitched was possibly not going to take place because of it. In fact, as Ben Johnston tells me, the only reason it did is because Partch was, quitely, threatened with a law suit if he didn't follow through with it. He didn't like the choreography and wanted to back out, but supposedly U of Illinois had already spent a chunk of money, no shock, and so they threatened him with a lawsuit to keep him involved.

Cheers,
Andy

Partch had problems with two well-known choreographers -Martha Graham
and Alwin Nikolais. Nikolais must have resolved some of the problems
because I saw his ensemble do a stunning dance to a tape of Castor and
Pollux in Zellerbach Hall at UCB around 1970-71.

Ben Johnston recounted some of the problems HP had with MG and AN in one
of his tributes to Harry.

--John

Andy,

--- In tuning@y..., JoJoBuBu@a... wrote:
> Yes although if I remember correctly Partch never met Martha Graham.

You apparantly remember incorrectly, as Partch played some of his
music for MG in the late 1940's in NY.

Much of this thread is not jiving with documentation and actual
facts. I don't have the time at the moment to recount it all here,
but I would refer those interested in both the
Nikolais 'collaborations' and the Graham (which never occurred) to
Bob Gilmore's Partch bio, which thoroughly documents the issues. As
well, you can read the actual correspondences between the parties in
Blackburn's "Enclosure 3".

The main problem with Partch/Nikolais was two very strong opinioned
artists, one a Dionysian and the other an Apollonian. Nik wanted the
instruments hidden behind a scrim, so as not to compete with his
dancers; Partch, creator of the music, libretto, and instruments,
felt that to be... not right.

All details can be found in the above sources; it is also important
to note that these parties were probably a terrible match to begin
with, meaning that how they came together was probably the bigger
mistake...

Cheers,
Jon

In a message dated 5/29/2001 10:17:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
JSZANTO@ADNC.COM writes:

> Andy,
>
> --- In tuning@y..., JoJoBuBu@a... wrote:
> > Yes although if I remember correctly Partch never met Martha Graham.
>
> You apparantly remember incorrectly, as Partch played some of his
> music for MG in the late 1940's in NY.
>

Yes I'm sure you are correct about Graham I wasnt quite sure and I tried to
convey that.

> Much of this thread is not jiving with documentation and actual
> facts.

Ummm ok how do you figure...

I don't have the time at the moment to recount it all here,

> but I would refer those interested in both the
> Nikolais 'collaborations' and the Graham (which never occurred) to
> Bob Gilmore's Partch bio, which thoroughly documents the issues. As
> well, you can read the actual correspondences between the parties in
> Blackburn's "Enclosure 3".
>
> The main problem with Partch/Nikolais was two very strong opinioned
> artists, one a Dionysian and the other an Apollonian. Nik wanted the
> instruments hidden behind a scrim, so as not to compete with his
> dancers; Partch, creator of the music, libretto, and instruments,
> felt that to be... not right.
>

I have already read the Partch bio and a seperate article about the
incident. I have not read enclosures but have also spoken with Ben johnston
about it quite a bit who was there. As for them both being opinionated, well
duh...

Andy

> All details can be found in the above sources; it is also important
> to note that these parties were probably a terrible match to begin
> with, meaning that how they came together was probably the bigger
> mistake...
>
> Cheers,
>