Choreography / 1953

Banjo

An unusual (for Cunningham) piece of light-hearted Americana, danced to Le Banjo by Louis Moreau Gottschalk, played with extraordinary virtuosity by David Tudor. A program note read: “The music and dance provide an accelerated and heightened montage of familiar southern American motifs.” The costumes were dresses for the women, shirts (with neckties) and pants for the men. Banjo was first performed in the Cunningham company’s initial program at Black Mountain College, North Carolina, in August 1953. In 1957 Cunningham choreographed a dance to another piece by Gottschalk, Ses yeux, polka de concert, and thereafter the two were always performed together.

Details

Premiere Date

Aug 21, 1953

Premiere Venue

Black Mountain College

Premiere Location

Black Mountain, NC

Music

Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Le Banjo, opus 15

Costumes

Remy Charlip

Duration

3 minutes, 30 seconds (est.)

Original Cast

Carolyn Brown

Remy Charlip

Merce Cunningham

Viola Farber

Jo Anne Melsher

Paul Taylor

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