Archive for the ‘Quotes of Note’ Category
Transcripted Segment from American Master’s Documentary AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: A HISTORY, to capture what it means to be human and elevate our existence
Posted June 5, 2015
on:This is a transcript of a segment from the American Master’s Documentary AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: A HISTORY, in which Ballet Historian Jennifer Homans talks about the origins of ballet and the art form is has become. Please forgive typos. This segment starts at about 12 minutes from the beginning of the documentary:
Ballet grew out of the European Courts of the 17th c. Before dance was an art form, it was really an etiquette. It grew out of the social life of the people of the court. How do you move when you’re in relation to the king? How do you offer a hand? How do you pass down the street? How to you live in your skin in daily life? It starts to become codified in a way.
Really where this takes hold the strongest is in the court of Louise the XIV. And this is a court that is rule bound in the extreme. Because rules are a form of power. And that’s how Louis ordered his court and established his authority.
Think about “The Reverence.” You bend your knee and you bow. What is that? That’s a sign of humility to someone of a higher authority than you. That’s also a step in ballet. It’s also a bending of the knees, a plie. It’s a preparation to jump, but it’s also a humility.
And Louis himself was a terrific performer. He would be, he was king, right? Don’t forget, this is hte moment when MEN were the great dancers. This is before the ballerinas and so ballet was created in order to express masculinity, power, strength, physical precision, control. Because you don’t want to lose control if you are a nobleman and especially if you are a king.
The key thing that got codified in Louis’s court was the five positions.The basic ABCs or building blocks of the art form itself. They are the same five positions that dancers use today. And they really designed these positions as the measure of man. so that there’s a geometric and mathematical precision to the proportionality of the body related to the positions themselves.
All of this comes out of the European Renaissance and it’s the idea that we’re going to go back to antiquity, back to a sort of idealized version, and we’re going to create an art form that expresses the geometric beauty and proportionality of the human body. So, it’s not just a set of rules. It’s Leonardo. Its’ Michelangelo. It’s, “how do you measure man?” How can you mix these art forms: poetry, music, dance, into a single art form that’s going to somehow capture what it means to be human? And what’s interesting about all of this is that although it developed in this courtly and aristocratic context, ti’s actually a radical idea. Because anybody can do it.
If you’re willing to stand at the bar every day in order to stabilize yourself, in order to practice these steps and positions (and most couriers were), you, too, can become more noble. And not just more noble ina social class, but as a person. A more noble person. Someone who has raised him or herself UP toward the angels and God. You can leave some of your bestiality behind and transcend UP the great chain of being, IF you can control your physical and emotional and spiritual being.
**********************
This passage caught me. It caught me because I take ART seriously. I am an artist and I live in my art and appreciate as much of all others as possible. And the reason I appreciate it all so much is because of the transcendence. The thought that if one can practice and art and share it, then one can explore (and share that exploration with others) what it means to be human. And, one can become more noble (and share that nobility). One can leave behind some of the baser aspects of our humanity and participate in transcendence, rising up the great chain of being (and bringing others with us). All by the practice and sharing of an art, where each art form is a practice (with the goal of mastery) of controlling (or harnessing, expressing, manipulating, creating) our physical, emotional, and spiritual begin. Which all rolled together molds our true, creative selves, our ART.
**********************
**********************
Related Posts
*
INFO AND THINKING ABOUT SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/resources-for-inspiration-and-information/
Singing with the groups of kids creates a bond. I adore every one of them and they seem to feel close to me, too. They give me lots of hugs (so wonderful!) and they feel free to tell me what they think. There is a gathering of kids at the end of almost every visit where they put in their requests for next time. Sometimes I get marvelous comments. On Thursday a little boy was pulling at his hair with GLEE saying “Oh, Mrs. G, all these books are so wonderful, I wish I had every one of them.” Yesterday I visited a doubled up class of 3rd graders. Since they are older kids, there are some more advanced songs that I save just for them. The last two songs we sang yesterday were illustrations of Joni Mitchell songs THE CIRCLE GAME and BOTH SIDES NOW (which are two of my personal all time favorites to sing). One of the girls came up to me and said, “You know those last two songs? They are too sad. I don’t like them. You should stick with the happy ones.” I appreciate very much that she felt free to articulate her feelings to me. I told her that she is completely entitled to her opinion and her feelings are just as valid as anyone else’s. But I still think it is good to challenge the kids with some more advanced ideas and a ballad or two!
**********************
Even if my friend didn’t like ’em, I do so love these:
*
The Circle Game
Words and Music by Joni Mitchell
Illustrated by Brian Deines
*
Both Sides Now
Words and Music by Joni Mitchell
Illustrated by Alan Baker
**********************
I think my friend was a fan of these happy songs, which really are full of delicious delightes:
*
The Backwards Birthday Party
Music and Lyrics by Tom Chapin and John Forster
Illustrated by Chuck Groeninck
*
Tomorrow
Words by Martin Charnin
Music by Charles Strouse
From the Musical ANNIE
For classroom use only.
**********************
Related Posts
*
INFO AND THINKING ABOUT SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/resources-for-inspiration-and-information/
*
FUNNY SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
That’s Hilarious! A List of Singable Picture Books that’ll Crack You Up!
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/thats-hilarious-a-list-of-singable-picture-books-thatll-crack-you-up/
*
PRAISE FOR SING BOOKS WITH EMILY
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/praise-for-sing-books-with-emily/
*
JONI MITCHELL
SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS OF JONI MITCHELL
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/joni-mitchell-in-singable-picture-books/
*
GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK
Singable Picture Books of the Great American Songbook and Michael Feinstein’s Foundation for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/american-songbook-singable-picture-books-and-michael-feinsteins-foundation-for-the-preservation-of-the-great-american-songbook/
SOUP OF THE EVENING BEAUTIFUL SOUP is sung by Mock Turtle in last 5th or so of ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.
*
BEAUTIFUL SOUP
Words by Lewis Carroll
From ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
Adaptation of the Poem “Star Of The Evening,” by James M. Sayle
Musical Settings by Various Artists
Illustration Adaptation of Andy Warhol’s Green Pea Soup Can from Campbell’s Soup I (1969)
**********************
BEAUTIFUL SOUP
Words by Lewis Carroll
From ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
Adaptation of the Poem “Star Of The Evening,” by James M. Sayle
Beautiful Soup, so rich and green,
Waiting in a hot tureen!
Who for such dainties would not stoop?
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
Beau – ootiful Soo – oop!
Beau – ootiful Soo – oop!
Soo – oop of the e – e – evening,
Beautiful, beautiful Soup!
Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish,
Game, or any other dish?
Who would not give all else for two
Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup?
Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup?
Beau – ootiful Soo – oop!
Beau – ootiful Soo – oop!
Soo – oop of the e – e – evening,
Beautiful, beautiful Soup!
**********************
Mock Turtle singing BEAUTIFUL SOUP as illustrated by John Tenniel (1866)
**********************
*
Charles Folkard’s 1920’s illustration for BEAUTIFUL SOUP
*
Charles Folkard’s 1920’s line drawing illustration for BEAUTIFUL SOUP
**********************
*
Mock Turtle wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock_Turtle
*
Mama Lisa has a page of Alice in Wonderland songs with a midi for a musical setting of BEAUTIFUL SOUP
http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/songs-from-alice-in-wonderland/
**********************
*
Gene Wilder as Mock Turtle sings BEAUTIFUL SOUP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDG73IAO5M8
**********************
Printed music and illustration for BEAUTIFUL SOUP are featured in:
*
Songs from Alice (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass)
Poems by Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Charles Folkard
(This book, ISBN 0-7136-1959-7, includes Carroll’s poem texts and Folkard’s Illustrations)
*
Songs from Alice (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass)
Poems by Lewis Carroll
Music by Don Harper
Illustrated by Charles Folkard
(This book, ISBN 0-8234-0358-0, includes Carroll’s poem texts, printed music composed by Don Harper and Folkard’s Illustrations)
**********************
Related posts:
*
FOOD
Food Glorious Food, a List of Singable Picture Books about Food
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/food-glorious-food-a-list-of-singable-picture-books-about-food/
*
TWINKLE LITTLE STAR: The Song, The List
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/twinkle-little-star-the-song-the-list/
*
Many Songs, One Famous Twinkly Tune
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/abc-twinkle-star-baa-blacksheep-singable-books-and-all-the-fix-ins-and-a-youre-adorable-too/
*
SINGABLE, ILLUSTRATED POEMS IN THE 2 ALICE BOOKS
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/alices-adventures-in-wonderland-and-through-the-looking-glass-singable/
*
I’M LATE, A SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK FOR THE WHITE RABBIT
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/im-late-a-singable-picture-book-for-the-white-rabbit/
*
ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Illustrated Singable Poems by Lewis Carrol in the ALICE books are found in the original books and in many volumes of illustrated poems for children
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/alices-adventures-in-wonderland-and-through-the-looking-glass-singable/
*
HOW DOTH THE LITTLE CROCODILE, A SINGABLE POEM (BY LEWIS CARROLL, FROM ALICE IN WONDERLAND)
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/how-doth-the-little-crocodile-a-singable-poem-from-wonderland/
*
TWINKLE LITTLE BAT, A SINGABLE POEM (BY LEWIS CARROLL, FROM ALICE IN WONDERLAND)
https://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/twinkle-twinkle-little-bat-a-singable-poem-with-pictures-and-a-play-on-a-classic/