The goldberg variations is known to us as bachs famous musical composition, but in contemporary dance history the title also refers to the iconic solo by steve paxton. Burt, ramsay, 1953 book chapter steve paxton s goldberg variations, which he performed nearly 200 times between 1986 and 1992, fits uneasily into accounts of recent dance history because it was an improvisation. Stephen petronio bloodlines is the project of a lifetime. The goldberg variations is the last recording to appear in glenn gould s lifetime, completing the discographical circle that had begun so spectacularly with the same work in 1955. Bach combined with his improvised variations on the same harmonies. Melanie georges program notes for the 2017 season of bloodlines i dont have one dance home. In the 1960s and 70s, a powerful counter movement developed against modern and classical dance, and paxton was in the vanguard of contact improvisation in contemporary dance. With an emphasis on the experimental, avantgarde, intercultural and interdisciplinary, it covers dance theatre, performance art, popular entertainment, media, sports, rituals and performance in.
This conclusion briefly reflects on how one might bring something to an end. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the. Its repeating aria at the end along with the alternating fastbright and slowcontemplative variations foreshadowed a model in these socalled goldberg variations one of the towering summation works bach wrote late in his life at leipzig. Excerpt from goldberg variations 1986 was performed march 28april 2, 2017 at the joyce theater in nyc on a program with works by yvonne rainer and anna halprin, and stephen petronio. Download the dossier of the exhibition azkuna zentroa. A dance critic called steve paxton s improvisations to bachs goldberg variations. In this improvised work, paxton incorporates a number of the main concerns of postcunningham dance, in a moving dialogue with the homonym bach composition, interpreted by glen gould. Steve paxtons goldberg variations and the angel of. Download citation steve paxton s goldberg variations and the angel of history using paxton s goldberg variations an improvised dance performed between 1986 and 1992 to pianist glenn goulds. Bach played by glenn gould improvised by steve paxton 198691 and some english suites, also by bach and gould, 19912005. Its about finding the zen of being within the notes.
Tdr provides scholarship on performances and their social, economic and political contexts. Steve paxton s goldberg variations burt, ramsay, 1953 steve paxton s goldberg variations, which he performed nearly 200 times between 1986 and 1992, fits uneasily into accounts of recent dance history because it was an improvisation. Thoughts about steve paxton on viewing four of his dances. Steve paxton s goldberg variations, which he performed nearly 200 times between 1986 and 1992, fits uneasily into accounts of recent dance history because it was an improvisation. A portrait of steve paxton nicholas sciscione dances a 2017 iteration of mr. Bach, played by glen gould and with dance improvisations by steve paxton. Just as riveting are the two suites of dances from the paxton goldberg variations. Stephen petronio honors his dance elders while seeding the. Using paxton s goldberg variations an improvised dance performed between 1986 and 1992 to pianist glenn goulds celebrated recordings of bachs musicburt investigates the problems of live performances long since passed into memory and videotape. In one scene, steve is seen sat at a laptop computer and views footage of two dances both goldberg variations which differ by five years. A statement from steve paxton about his dance production the goldberg variations, filmed in 1992 by walter verdin at the occasion his last performance of the production at felix meritis. Excerpt from goldberg variations by steve paxton on vimeo. Nicholas sciscione will dance an excerpt from steve paxton s goldberg variations during the opening weekend of cathy weis projects sundays on broadway fall 2018 season sciscione dances with the stephen petronio company, and is an assistant to the artistic director also on the bill. The disc includes an introduction by steve paxton, a live registration of the final performance in amsterdam, and an excerpt from ziggurat brtn about the shooting and editing process.
Title pages published on by university of chicago press. Next to the goldberg variations, we present a wall of solos, ranging from dances. Notice how the inevitably make the arm assume a balletlike shape. The title the goldberg variations not only evokes the famous music of bach, but also the solo by steve paxton an iconic moment in the history of western dance. The goldberg variations stem from a later period, 1986, when steve paxton had already developed his famous contact improvisation. This essay discusses the problems of acknowledging the liveness and uniqueness of the performance event that improvisation in particular raises, and uses this as a. Steve paxton s goldberg variations a study in solo.
Photo by lesley howling steve paxton is undoubtedly one of the most important dance artists of the past 40 years. Material for the spine with steve paxton andrew dance. It also considers the arrogance of those who celebrate their own achievements in this regard. In 2009, after seeing steve paxton s goldberg variations and conversing with its creator, he devised a personal improvisation practice. The recently discovered analog reels from the legendary 1981 recording sessions for the goldberg variations have been used for this new remaster for a true analog. Steve paxton s goldberg variations and the angel of history steve paxton s goldberg variations and the angel of history burt, ramsay 20021201 00. In recent years he has worked as a solo artist, collaborating at the same time with maja delak, janez jansa, boris charmatz and martin kilvady. Steve paxton project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Early in his career, he wrote a magnificant aria with variations in the italian manner bwv989. The goldberg variations is known to us as bachs famous musical composition, but in.
It introduces improvisation as a predicament rather than a skill. Nicholas sciscione and emily stone practice a section of a steve paxton solo remounted for the third season of bloodlines bloodlines rehearsal. Each time paxton performed the work between 1986 and 1992, heand now interpreters like nicholas sciscione. This program also includes paxton s the goldberg variations by j. Steve paxtons excerpt from goldberg variations petron. Collaborating with steve paxton 20102016, he has performed paxton s work bound 1982, flat 1964 and quicksand 2016, as well as staged satisfyin lover.
In 2009, an indepth observation of steve paxton s goldberg variations video, with conversations that sprouted from it, triggered the development of a personal improvisation practice. He was a founding member of the experimental group grand union. However, while goldberg variations was a very popular piece in the. Steve paxton s excerpt from goldberg variations 1986 was incorporated into the bloodlines project in the 20162017 season, the third iteration of the initiative. The introduction reiterates the improvisatory nature of the book as a whole and the strategy of writing. In the goldberg variations gaan dansers oskar stalpaert platformk, michiel. Finally it accepts that if the book as a whole has managed to indicate what nietzsche writing of his own good books describes as a new series of experiences, then at least it might be considered a good book. Later phases of his workimprovisations with percussionist david moss, goldberg variations, part to music by robert ashley in collaboration with the terrifically expressive lisa nelsonare, to me, less conceptual and less complicated to read, centering on paxton s own body and its potentials.
Konjar had begun working on paxton s goldberg variations, an improvised dance performed between 1986 and 1992 to pianist glenn goulds celebrated recordings of bachs music, finally collaborating with the master in 2010 on that work. Stephen petronios troupe, performing his sophisticated hardness 10 and parts of steve paxton s goldberg variations, offers a stronger balance of past and present than its program. Bach played by glenn gould improvised by steve paxton 198692, an ethereal solo that paxton performed in empty dance halls and in the woods, among other unorthodox locations. Theres two versions of steve paxton s goldberg variations and another dance too. Azkuna zentroa alhondiga bilbao presents the exhibition steve paxton. It concludes with a list of key terms, many of which are in pairs. Paxton is known for his solo improvisations and as the initiator of contact improvisation, a dance form where touch is central. As a founding member of the judson dance theater, he performed works by yvonne rainer and trisha brown. Stephanie jordan brought saids book to my attention when i was beginning to write about. Jimi hendrix 20 composition, improvisation, and obligation. Sing five songs by the bueno vista social club over karaoke while doing subtle movements occasionally.
Bach, maar ook naar een iconische danssolo van steve paxton. Variations 1624 are performed by megan wright and by nicholas sciscione. Steve paxton, performances by stephen petronio company moma. Ideosyncratic movement starts to creep in 57 minutes in. Stephen petronio honors his dance elders while seeding the future for young choreographers his company is bringing a revival of the influential steve paxton s goldberg variations. Steve paxtons goldberg variations and the angel of history. In this sense, her work bears more resemblance to excerpt from goldberg variations, a series of improvisational solos created by the dancer and choreographer steve paxton, and set to both versions of goulds goldberg variations. Do an interpretation of steve paxton s goldberg variations all but one. Steve paxtons goldberg variations and the angel of history jstor. It also presents the key philosophers drawn upon throughout the text. In 2009, a chain of events led konjar to start rehearsing. Patricia kuypers 11 to 14 march wednesday saturday 4. Also supported by grants from fca, as an influence of the work which they enabled, two solo performances of my own. Steve paxton born 1939, phoenix, arizona is an experimental dancer and choreogra.
Merce cunningham rear, viola farber, steve paxton front. A famous example is steve paxtons satisfyin lover, from 1967, in which a large. The improvisations of the american choreographer steve paxton to johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations are unforgettable for anyone who ever witnessed them. The goldberg variations mikhail zyatin glenn gould variations on glenn gould, interview. Project muse steve paxtons goldberg variations and the. On goldberg variations variations is based on the solo album goldberg variations variations by the frenchamerican pianist and composer dan tepfer, where he performs the goldberg variations of j. Initiated in 2014, on the heels of stephen petronio companys 30th anniversary, bloodlines simultaneously looks forward and back on the legacy of stephen petronio, while making space for the vision. Bach played by glenn gould improvised by steve paxton filmed by walter verdinmusic recording from 1981. Relive her experience on thursday, when we screen walter verdins 1992 film.