Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Lloyd, Ruth.
2. Lloyd, Norman, 1909-1980.
3. Wiesner, Theodora.
4. Schlottmann, Jeanette.

Description

1. 8 sound cassettes (ca. 13 hours) +

Summary

1. Cassette 1. 120 min. Side 1: Louis Horst discusses his early childhood and family life; learning violin and piano; his family's different residences throughout his childhood; his early career playing piano in bars and theater houses; his memories of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, Calif.; his work in Bermuda and New Hampshire; his work as an accompanist in vaudeville acts, drama houses and for Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn.
2. Cassette 1, cont. Side 2: Horst continues talking about touring with St. Denis and Shawn; his ability to remember dances though conducting them; the Denishawn repertory; Martha Graham; Doris Humphrey's and Charles Weidman's beginnings with Denishawn; managing and directing the tour of Shawn's works, Julnar of the sea and Xochitl; the beginnings of Horst's relationship with Martha Graham; and conservative communities' reactions to the Graham's costuming.
3. Cassette 2. 45 min. Horst continues discussing his tours with Denishawn, opening the Denishawn Studio in New York and Denishawn's 1922 England tour.
4. Cassette 3. 120 min. Side 1: Horst continues to discuss Denishawn's 1922 tour of England; developing dance choirs; Daniel Mayer's promotion of Horst and Denishawn; the company's 1923 program and tour; making Ampico records of Denishawn techniques; Mariarden; Horst's decision to stay home from Denishawn's Orient tour; Horst's studies in Vienna and journey home to New York; touring with Martha Graham. In a new session, joined by Norman and Ruth Lloyd and Theodora Wiesner, Horst reads a medieval music manuscript.
5. Cassette 3, cont. Side 2: Horst discusses repertory from Graham's 1926 tour; the group (Horst, Norman and Ruth Lloyd and Theodora Wiesner) remembers early dance critics, including John Martin's hiring at the New York Times; they discuss the development of Graham technique; Graham's Primitive mysteries; Horst's work with John Murray Anderson, Ronny Johansson, Michio Ito, Helen Tamiris, Doris Niles and Fred Allen; composing music for Graham; playing for Ruth Page, Harald Kreutzberg and Tilly Losch; persuading Doris Humphrey to leave Denishawn; Graham's and Humphrey's repertories in 1928; Horst's work for Aldolf Bolm and his introduction to Agnes De Mille. In new session, without the Lloyds and Wiesner, Horst discusses his busy schedule as an accompanist.
6. Cassette 4. 100 min. Horst continues discussing his work as an accompanist for dance; playing for Harald Kreutzberg, Yvonne Georgi, Doris Humphrey, Helen Tamiris, and Martha Graham; writing for Dance magazine; Eddie Strawbridge; Horst's music composition classes at the Perry Mansfield Camp and the Neighborhood Playhouse; working for Hans Wiener (Jan Veen); Horst's salary as an accompanist; the beginning of Dance Repertory Theatre. Side 2: Horst continues to discuss his career and events in dance in the 1930's; Werner Janssen's New Year's Eve in New York; Jean Borlin; and Graham's concert at the Cornish School in Seattle.
7. Cassette 5. 120 min. While looking through his scrapbook Horst reflects on programs from 1930 and 1931; artists' individual interpretation of Modernism; Agnes De Mille's midnight performance; Blanche Yurka's work, Electra; Perry-Mansfield dancers; Graham's consultation with Aaron Copland for her solo Dithyrambic; Horst discusses his music composition for Primitive mysteries; Graham's performances and lectures at the New School; the beginnings of Doris Humphrey's work Shakers; and continued discussion of tours with Graham, Ruth Page and Humphrey in 1932. Side 2: Horst discusses Horace T. Parker's reviews; Horst's experiences at Ethel Walker School, Russell Sage College and a southern women's club with Graham; Horst continues to reflect on his career and colleagues in the year 1932 including the opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York City; Graham's work with medieval plays; Horst's 1933 and 1934 seasons including Ruth St. Denis' repertory, Elegiac & Ekstasis; publication of Dance observer; and continued discussion of the 1934 season with Graham and others.
8. Cassette 6. 80 min. Horst discusses the beginnings of Bennington's summer dance program; he continues to reflect on events by noting the programs and articles in his scrapbook; Martha Graham's works Act of piety, Primitive Mysteries and Celebration; more about Bennington's first summers; the end of Horst's career with Graham and details about their relationship; Horst's living arrangements; composers working with Graham including Paul Hindemith; Horst's work with Pierre Fresnay on Broadway; Horst reflects on his work from the 1935 season. Side 2: Horst discusses pieces from Graham's repertory as well as other work and events in 1935.
9. Cassette 7. 120 min. Horst and Roosevelt discuss the use of the biblical story Noah's Ark in dance; Graham's performance at Rollins College in 1966 (The death of Annie Russell); Horst continues to reflect on Graham's 1936 tour and his souvenir programs and press; Horst's various lectures at Bennington and other colleges [tape fades in and out and is unclear for a few minutes]; his college tours with Graham and St. Denis; Horst's work in 1937, including his continued touring with Graham; students and teachers at Bennington in 1937. Side 2: Horst continues discussion of teaching and tours during 1937-1938; his reunion performance with Ruth St. Denis at the Central Theatre, 1937; Horst recounts, in detail, his dinner and performance with Graham at the White House in 1937 for Mrs. Morgenthau's birthday party; his introductions to Franklin Roosevelt Jr. and Mrs. Roosevelt. Horst and interviewer Jeanette Roosevelt discuss and enjoy some Irish whiskey together. In the next session, Horst reflects on 1939 tours and events.
10. Cassette 8. 90 min. Horst continues his discussion of the 1939 season; the Bennington Dance Festival at Mills College; Carol Russell; Jerome Robbins; Graham's every soul is a circus and Letter to the world; judging the Indian ceremonial in Gallup, N.M.; music for Graham's work Primitive mysteries; Horst's 1940 season; Alfred Frankenstein's interest in Horst's work; the 1940 Dance Theatre Series at the YMHA; "Celebrities at the Ford Exposition"; John Martin's reviews of Graham's Letter to the world and El penitente; donating his scrapbooks to the library; and Horst's thousands of students during his career.

Donor/Sponsor

1. New York State Council on the Arts, 2001.
2. Oral History Archive.

Subject

1. Horst, Louis > Interviews
2. Shawn, Ted, 1891-1972
3. St. Denis, Ruth, 1880-1968
4. Graham, Martha
5. Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958
6. Weidman, Charles
7. Martin, John
8. Denishawn School of Dancing
9. Neigborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
10. Dance Repertory Theatre
11. New School Art Center
12. Bennington College
13. Dithyrambic (Choreographic work : Graham)
14. El penitente (Choreographic work : Graham)
15. American provincials (Choreographic work : Graham)

Call number

1. *MGZMT 3-2261

Note

1. Recorded between 1959 and December 1960.
2. Interview conducted by Jeanette Schlottmann Roosevelt.

Access (note)

1. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Funding (note)

1. Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts.

Author

1. Horst, Louis. Interviewee

Title

1. Interview with Louis Horst [sound recording].

Imprint

1. 1959-1960.

Funding

1. Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts.

Local note

1. Preservation master tape: *MGZTO 7-2261.
2. Dubbing master: *MGZTD 10-2261, 1-7.

Restricted access

1. Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Local subject

1. Modern dance -- Technique -- Graham.
2. Audiotapes -- Horst, L.
3. Audiotapes -- Lloyd, N.
4. Audiotapes -- Lloyd, R.
5. Audiotapes -- Wiesner, T.

Added author

1. Lloyd, Ruth. Interviewee
2. Lloyd, Norman, 1909-1980. Interviewee
3. Wiesner, Theodora. Interviewee
4. Schlottmann, Jeanette. Interviewer

Research call number

1. *MGZMT 3-2261 [Transcript]
2. *MGZTC 3-2261 [Sound cassettes]