Episodes (ballet)
Encyclopedia
Episodes is a two-part ballet made by Martha Graham
and George Balanchine to Anton von Webern's Symphony, Op. 21; Five Pieces, Op. 10; Concerto
, Op. 24; and the Ricercata in Six Voices from Bach's Musical Offering which Webern had arranged in homage to Bach as Balanchine conceived the ballet as one to Webern. The premiere took place under the ausipices of the Ballet Society on May 19, 1959, at City Center of Music and Drama
, New York, with scenery and lighting by David Hays; the conductor was Robert Irving
.
Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein
invited Martha Graham to choreograph a joint work using all of Webern's orchestral pieces. The result was not a true collaboration but a work composed of two separate sections. Graham's contribution, Episodes I, danced by her company plus four dancers from New York City Ballet
, was a depiction of the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. Dancers for this section were attired in ornate, Elizabethan costumes designed by Karinska
.
Episodes II, Balanchine's contribution to the work, was danced by Ballet Society and Paul Taylor, who was then a dancer in Graham's company. This portion, definitively more abstract, dressed the performers in simple, non-descript, stark black-and-white practice clothing. The overall effect allowed Graham's portion to be perceived through a more classical focus — though created and performed by a modern dance company — while Balanchine's portion was viewed in the reverse: a modernist work being created and performed by classical dancers.
City Ballet ceased performing Graham's section in 1960 (at which time it was performed Balanchine's as Episodes II) and in 1961 eliminated the solo variation which Paul Taylor had made on himself, since which the remaining four movements have been performed by NYCB under the original title, Episodes. In 1986 Taylor reconstructed the solo on Peter Frame who danced it as part of the ballet that year and the next.
:Category:Ballets by Martha Graham
Martha Graham
Martha Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She danced and choreographed for over seventy years...
and George Balanchine to Anton von Webern's Symphony, Op. 21; Five Pieces, Op. 10; Concerto
Concerto (Webern)
Anton Webern's Concerto for Nine Instruments, Op. 24 is a twelve-tone concerto for nine instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, and piano; containing three movements: I. Etwas lebhaft, II. Sehr langsam, and III...
, Op. 24; and the Ricercata in Six Voices from Bach's Musical Offering which Webern had arranged in homage to Bach as Balanchine conceived the ballet as one to Webern. The premiere took place under the ausipices of the Ballet Society on May 19, 1959, at City Center of Music and Drama
New York City Center
New York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
, New York, with scenery and lighting by David Hays; the conductor was Robert Irving
Robert Irving (conductor)
Robert Augustine Irving, DFC*, was a British conductor whose reputation was mainly as a ballet conductor.Born in Winchester, England, the son of mountaineer and author R. L. G. Irving, he was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford, graduating with a degree in music...
.
Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein
Lincoln Kirstein
Lincoln Edward Kirstein was an American writer, impresario, art connoisseur, and cultural figure in New York City...
invited Martha Graham to choreograph a joint work using all of Webern's orchestral pieces. The result was not a true collaboration but a work composed of two separate sections. Graham's contribution, Episodes I, danced by her company plus four dancers from New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
, was a depiction of the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. Dancers for this section were attired in ornate, Elizabethan costumes designed by Karinska
Barbara Karinska
Varvara Jmoudsky, better known as Barbara Karinska or simply Karinska , was costumer of the New York City Ballet, and the first costume designer ever to win the Capezio Dance Award, for costumes "of visual beauty for the spectator and complete delight for the dancer".However, she designed the...
.
Episodes II, Balanchine's contribution to the work, was danced by Ballet Society and Paul Taylor, who was then a dancer in Graham's company. This portion, definitively more abstract, dressed the performers in simple, non-descript, stark black-and-white practice clothing. The overall effect allowed Graham's portion to be perceived through a more classical focus — though created and performed by a modern dance company — while Balanchine's portion was viewed in the reverse: a modernist work being created and performed by classical dancers.
City Ballet ceased performing Graham's section in 1960 (at which time it was performed Balanchine's as Episodes II) and in 1961 eliminated the solo variation which Paul Taylor had made on himself, since which the remaining four movements have been performed by NYCB under the original title, Episodes. In 1986 Taylor reconstructed the solo on Peter Frame who danced it as part of the ballet that year and the next.
Episodes I
-
- Passacaglia, Op. 1,
- Mary, Queen of Scots
- Martha Graham
-
- and Six Pieces, Op. 6
- Elizabeth, Queen of England
- Sallie WilsonSallie WilsonSallie Wilson was a noted ballerina who appeared with New York City Ballet where she danced opposite Martha Graham in the premiere of Graham and George Balanchine's collaboration at NYCB, Episodes in May, 1959, and subsequently with American Ballet Theatre, where she was associated with several...
NYCB
- Bothwell
- Bertram Ross
- the 4 Marys
- Darnley, Riccio and Chastelard
- 4 women
- 3 men
Episodes II
-
- Symphony, Op. 21
- Violette VerdyViolette VerdyViolette Verdy is a French ballerina who has worked as a director of dance companies and in other related capacities since her retirement from performing in the late 1970s. Verdy began dance training as a small child and performed with Les Ballets des Champs-Elysées beginning in 1945...
- 3 couples
- Jonathan WattsJonathan WattsJonathan Watts is an award-winning journalist and the author of . He served as president of the from 2008-2009 and as vice president of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan from 2001-2003...
-
- Five Pieces, Op. 10
- Diana AdamsDiana AdamsDiana Adams was an American dancer, leading dancer for the New York City Ballet from 1950 to 1963 and a favorite of George Balanchine, later became a teacher and a dean at the School of American Ballet. Adams was born in Staunton, Virginia and died in San Andreas, California....
-
- Concerto, Op. 24
- Allegra KentAllegra KentAllegra Kent is an American ballet dancer and actress.Born in Santa Monica, Kent studied with Bronislava Nijinska and Carmelita Maracci before joining the School of American Ballet. After graduating, she joined the New York City Ballet in 1953 at the age of 15, and was promoted to principal in 1957...
- 4 women
- Nicholas MagallanesNicholas MagallanesNicholas Magallanes was a first-generation principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. Along with Jerome Robbins, Francisco Moncion and Maria Tallchief, Magallanes was among the core group of dancers with which George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein formed the New York City Ballet in 1948...
-
- Variations, Op. 30
- Paul Taylor Martha Graham Dance Company
-
- Ricercata in 6 voices from Bach's Musical Offering
- Melissa HaydenMelissa Hayden (dancer)Melissa Hayden was a Canadian ballerina at the New York City Ballet.-Early life:...
- 14 women
- Francisco Moncion
first cast
-
- Symphony
- Ellen Bar first time in rôle
- Philip NealPhilip NealPhilip Neal was a principal dancer with New York City Ballet. He studied from age 11 at the Richmond Ballet School. After six years of study there, Edward Villella arranged a summer scholarship for him at NCYB's School of American Ballet...
-
- Five Pieces
- Darci KistlerDarci KistlerDarci Kistler is a noted American ballerina. She is often said to be the last muse for legendary choreographer George Balanchine.-Biography:...
- Amar RamasarAmar RamasarAmar Ramasar is a principal dancer of the New York City Ballet. In 2010, Dance Magazine reported that Ramasar was one of the few Asian American professional ballet dancers...
-
- Concerto
- Wendy WhelanWendy WhelanWendy Whelan is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and guest artist with Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company.-Early life:A native of Louisville, Kentucky , she began her dance training with local teacher Virginia Wooton at the age of three...
- Albert EvansAlbert EvansAlbert Evans , was a British Labour Party politician.A master engraver, Evans became involved in the Labour movement in the the 1920s, and was elected to Islington Borough Council in 1936...
-
- Bach
- Maria KowroskiMaria KowroskiMaria Kowroski is a principal ballerina at the New York City Ballet.Ms. Kowroski's training in ballet began at the School ofthe Grand Rapids Ballet and subsequently the School of American Ballet in 1992; became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 1994 and joined the corps de ballet in 1995....
- Charles AskegardCharles AskegardCharles Askegard was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and began his dance training at the age of five with Loyce Houlton and the Minnesota Dance Theatre. He continued his studies in Minneapolis until the age of 16, spending one summer at the School of American Ballet in 1983Mr...
second cast
-
- Symphony
- Abi Stafford
- Arch HigginsArch HigginsArch Higgins was a soloist with New York City Ballet. He began his study at eight years with Berkeley Ballet Theater with former City Ballet dancer Sally Streets. From 1982 he attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet which he entered full-time on scholarship four years later. He...
-
- Five Pieces
- Teresa Reichlen
- Ask la Cour
-
- Concerto
- Janie Taylor
- Sébastien Marcovici
-
- Bach
- Sara Mearns
Television
- 1963 Concerto NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
- 1970 Five Pieces CBCCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, Montreal - 1973 RM Productions
- 1976 German television
- 1978 BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, London
See also
:Category:Ballets by Martha Graham
Reviews
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50D17F63A58137B93C7A8178ED85F4D8585F9NY Times by John MartinJohn Martin (dance critic)John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
of Graham and Balanchine's Episodes, May 15, 1959]
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20D13F73554177A93C6A8178BD95F418685F9NY Times by Clive BarnesClive Barnes (critic)Clive Alexander Barnes, CBE was a British-born American writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977 he was the dance and theater critic for the New York Times, the most powerful position he had held, since its theater critics' reviews historically have had great influence on the success or failure of...
, October 14, 1965]
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F7071EFD385A13728DDDA10894D9405B888BF1D3Sunday NY Times: Balanchine's Episodes by Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, January 8, 1978]
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30715FD3E5F12728DDDAC0A94DC405B8084F1D3NY Times: Graham's Episodes I by Anna KisselgoffAnna KisselgoffAnna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
, April 25, 1980]
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03EED81138F933A15756C0A965948260NY Times: Balanchine's Episodes by Jennifer DunningJennifer DunningJennifer Dunning is a writer and critic for the New York Times on the subjects of dance and ballet. She is the author of the 1985 But First a School: The First Fifty Years of the School of American Ballet, the 1996 Alvin Ailey, a Life in Dance and the 1997 Great Performances: A...
, May 20, 1983]
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/29/arts/dance/29caro.htmlNY Times by Jennifer DunningJennifer DunningJennifer Dunning is a writer and critic for the New York Times on the subjects of dance and ballet. She is the author of the 1985 But First a School: The First Fifty Years of the School of American Ballet, the 1996 Alvin Ailey, a Life in Dance and the 1997 Great Performances: A...
, January 29, 2007]
- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/arts/dance/10farr.htmlNY Times by Alastair MacaulayAlastair MacaulayAlastair Macaulay is a dance critic for the New York Times. He was previously chief dance critic at The Times Literary Supplement and chief theater critic of the Financial Times, both of London...
. October 9, 2008]