Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring Part 4/4

Part 4/4

Appalachian Spring
Premiered 1944
Choreographed by Martha Graham
Original Score by Aaron Copland

This part contains the following movements of the piece:

11th movement: Fast and manic. The bride worries about her impending life on the frontier. We see her suggesting childbirth and rearing.

12th movement: Slow and calm. The husbandman comes to the bride to console her with his newfound guidance.

13th movement: Dramatic replaying of the theme. The "Simple Gifts" tune is played once again dramatically as all the characters celebrate the coming of the husband and wife to the frontier.

14th movement: Slow and resolute: The characters' recessional. We leave the bride and husbandman to their newfound future.

Dancers in this film:
The Bride: Martha Graham
The Husbandman: Stuart Hodes
The Revivalist: Bertram Ross
The Pioneer Woman: Matt Turney
The Revivalists' Flock: Yuriko, Helen McGehee, Ethel Winter, Miriam Cole

Film Directed and Photographed by Peter Glushanok, Produced by Nathan Kroll, Presented by WQED Pittsburgh. Filmed in 1959.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Modern Dance
• Martha Graham
• Appalachian Spring
• Aaron Copland

[roncerod]

I adore this presentation. I am now a fan of Martha Graham. I was touched and moved by them all.

[somerspaulm]

The iconic performance of an American iconic work. Any "new" version of this choreography should at least stay with the story line. I saw a version awhile back that had nothing at all to do with the original. Not only was it poorly danced, for lack of a better term, but it was based on some simple-minded post-modernist conceit. Totally dim.

It is a shame that the 13 musicians are not listed, for their performance is wonderful. If their names are available, please add them.

[AndrewRudin]

And has anyone EVER filmed dance more meaningfully than Peter Glushanok (and the wonderful editing of Eleanor Hamerow)? I agree that if you're going to credit the lighting, and the camerman, etc. the 13 players should indeed be credited. But this is so wonderful to have this, even if it was done too late to include Merce Cunningham (the original Preacher) and Eric Hawkins (the husband... who actually was, for a time, Graham's husband).

[dsindc]

@jacoismyhero (cont)... German Europe, and what folk music the American people had produced. Aaron embraced all of it - (even though at first he hated Western Cowboy Music, he came to become a real fan). I think we are changing. I'm white, my nephew is marrying a wonderful Korean, and both families are thrilled. This would have been a scandal only a few decades ago. On the artistic scene, Europe has been pretty dead culturally for some time now. I still think America has a lot of potential.

[dsindc]

@jacoismyhero What a great comment jacoismyhero. I've always had conflicted views about the U.S., but we do seem to .. if ever so slowly...increase circles of inclusion. I also think it's important to remember that we have never had a big powerful country forcefully pushing us to so. It was the U.S. that pushed Europe (after 50 million people were killed in WW II) to put an end to a sort of tribalism. Copland makes references in his music to the African American , Jewish Europe, (cont)

[dsindc]

@Verschrankung Excellent point. Something becomes art (IMHO), when it passes the test of time. Copland's has done that.

[jacoismyhero]

@dsindc I can certainly understand your frustration. It saddens me to see our struggles with civil rights for our lgbt brothers and sisters. I take solace in the fact that American art comes from (and exists because of) people of all races, religions, and sexual orientations. Beauty exists in everyone and everything. This is one piece of the puzzle that is true American culture - not the ugliness of its oppression and ignorance, but of its desire to overcome and love and find happiness.

[toomuchchai]

Just beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[toshiba6079]

merci.

[mgsmith1957]

I've waited such a long time to see this original ballet? and came upon it by chance ( thank you danceonfilm and youtube!!). It did not disappoint.

Btw how can anyone comment before the end of the work.??????????

This, and the serious nature of Martha and her folk at that time helped put America on the cultural map. The chamber version of the Copland score is finer and more subtle than the orchestral version. I'd love to see a modern version with the original score here in Liverpool.

[brunofan8]

i think that the story is very interesting, but the dance doesn't spark me as great. No offense; just my opinion being stated.

[dsindc]

@jacoismyhero I was touched by your comments. My wish is that not only will this work be noted for the masterpiece that it is, and one of the great artistic works of the American people, but that the composer of this music was gay. I am disgusted when I (as a resident of Washington D.C.) see gatherings of Tea Party followers, and other conservative groups use the music of Aaron Copland. I don't think he would approve. But then who would they turn to? Elvis ?