|
Alcestis
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|
Ballet
for Martha Graham
and Orchestral Suite
|
year |
1960
|
duration |
11 minutes
|
instrumentation |
Dance
composition: chamber orchestra; Orchestral Suite: full
orchestra
|
commission |
Martha
Graham
|
première |
Premiere of
the dance composition: April 29, 1960, 54th Street
Theatre, New York, Martha Graham and Dance Company,
chamber orchestra conducted by Robert Irving. Premiere of
the orchestral suite: November 5, 1983, Bennington
College, Bennington, Vermont, Vermont Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by Efraim Guigui
|
recording |
(orchestral
suite): The Imperial Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of
Tokyo, William Strickland, conducting, CRI 692 CD, American
Masters Series, “Music of Vivian Fine.”
|
movements |
- Alcestis and Thanatos
- The Revelling Hercules
- Battle between Hercules and Thanatos
- Dance of Triumph and The Rescue of Alcestis
|
program
notes |
The working procedure
was much different than it had been in Fine’s
previous experience with choreographers. Heretofore the
choreography preceded the music. With Alcestis, Fine
wrote the music from a dramatic script written by Graham.
As stated on the score, Fine’s intention was
“an attempt to depict the dramatic and emotional
qualities of the myth…[that] avoids descriptive or
representational writing.” As a musical work, the
score is self-sufficient. Fine distilled the essence of
the myth into a sonic drama expressed by contrapuntal
lines enhanced by imaginative orchestration and flexible
rhythms to complete the composer’s realization of
Alcestis. Later she extracted sections of the ballet
score to create an independent composition, an orchestral
suite.....
The following synopsis of the ballet’s mythological
story is taken from CRI’s original LP release:
“Alcestis has sacrificed herself to Thanatos
(Death) in order that her husband, Admetus, king of
Thessaly, might attain immortality. While the house of
Admetus mourns her demise, Hercules arrives. While the
news of Alcestis’ death has been kept from
him...Hercules indulges in a heroic, might we say
Herculean, bout of feasting and drinking. When he learns,
by the careless words of a servant, of her death, he
engages mighty Thanatos in combat. Victorious, her
returns Alcestis to her husband and her
people.”
--Heidi Von Gunden, liner notes to “Vivian
Fine,” CRI American Masters CD 692
|
reviews |
“…the structures and lines are magnificently
clean and very exciting.”
–American
Record Guide, March, 1962
“…the music of Vivian Fine gives [the ballet]
consistent voice. Hearing and seeing, emotion and motor
response become a unified process.”
–John Martin,
The New York Times, April 30, 1960
“…highly intense…especially cogent in
its dark orchestration…”
–Arthur Cohn,
The Music Magazine, February 1962
|
audio
files |
The
Revelling Hercules
Battle
between Hercules and Thanatos
Dance
of Triumph and The Rescue of Alcestis
|