Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Description

1. 3 sound discs (ca. 88 min.) : digital, stereo; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

1. Part 1, disc 1 (ca. 31 min.). Dani Karavan speaks with Don McDonagh about Martha Graham, and her fleeing Israel days before the 6 Day War; Graham visiting Jerusalem, and a mosque soldier recognizing her; working with Graham; seeing Graham's company in 1956 while he was living on a kibbutz; being shocked and thrilled by Graham's performance; being attracted to the lighting and forms being used by Graham; beginning to create sets for theater, including the army theaters in Israel; working as a painter; being approached by Graham to create a set; Graham's ability to allow the set designer create without interruption from her; touring through Europe to see cultural events, and gathering inspiration; Graham sending him the script for the Legend of Judith, and sending him gifts; Graham's use of atmosphere, and the fact that designers had to understand that aspect of Graham's work; sending sketches of his work to Graham, and communications between them concerning set pieces.
2. Part 1, disc 2 (ca. 30 min.). Dani Karavan speaks with Don McDonagh about the Legend of Judith; Graham removing her shoes and dancing on the set model in his workshop; the fact that Graham's dancers become one with the set and props; when Legend of Judith was staged, the hair on his arms stood up; the composers used by Graham, including Eugene Lester; Graham's effect on audiences, and critical responses to her work; an anecdote when Graham defiantly shook her fist at an unwelcoming audience; Graham's first solo work when she was in her 30s; visiting Graham in N.Y. and seeing her apartment; Graham wanting to return to Israel, but not having funds to do so; wanting to correspond with President Nixon to have funds sent to Graham as a cultural treasure; Bethsabee de Rothschild's support of Graham; Graham's issues with alcohol, and the effects on her health; Graham using her entire savings to care for Geordie Graham while she was in the hospital.
3. Part 3 (ca. 27 min.). Dani Karavan speaks with Don McDonagh about working with Graham after Legend of Judith, but Graham being unable to send a script or story for him to work from; creating sketches using Indian imagery; sending the model to Graham in N.Y. from Israel; Jean Rosenthal, and her influence on him; his first trip to N.Y.; Graham's confliction between dancing or retiring; favorite Graham works, including Clytemnestra, Acrobats of God, Cave of the heart, and Appalachian spring; Isamu Noguchi, and his influence on his work; Graham's influence on the dramatic arts.

Subject

1. Legend of Judith (Choreographic work : Graham)
2. Martha Graham Dance Company
3. Karavan, Dani > Interviews
4. Graham, Martha > Influence
5. Set designers

Call number

1. *MGZTL 4-2540

Note

1. Interview with Dani Karavan conducted by Don McDonagh on March 31, 1972.
2. Each disc ends abruptly.
3. Open as of August 22, 2012.

Funding (note)

1. Recording was preserved through a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Source (note)

1. Don McDonagh;

Author

1. Karavan, Dani. Interviewee

Title

1. Interview with Dani Karavan [sound recording].

Imprint

1. 1972.

Funding

1. Recording was preserved through a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Local note

1. Archive orig. : *MGZTCO 3-2540, nos. 1-2
2. Dubbing master : *MGZTD 4-2540, nos. 1-3

Source

1. Gift; Don McDonagh; 2007

Added author

1. McDonagh, Don. Donor
2. Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Research call number

1. *MGZTL 4-2540 sound disc