video record
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Description
Charles Ives is considered by many to be America's most important 20th century composer. The programme includes interviews with composers Aaron Copland and Elliot Carter, performances by The Chilin...girian String Quartet and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, dramatised sequences of Ives' childhood, an extract from Ives' "Concord Sonata" played by John Kirkpatrick and filmed in Ives' own studio at the piano on which it was composed. Up till now there has been very little television material on Ives and this programme offers a profile of his striking personality and achievement.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: A308, The rise of modernism in music 1890-1935
Item code: A308; 03
First transmission date: 04-03-1979
Published: 1979
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:24:35
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Producer: David Thompson
Contributors: Elliot Carter; Aaron Copland; Robert Henderson; John Kirkpatrick
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Chilingirian String Quartet
Subject terms: Ives, Charles,--1874-1954
Footage description: Over a photograph of Ives, Henderson quotes the composer on the importance of music. Music from his 4th Symphony. Interview with Aaron Copland, who assesses the achievements of Ives. Shots of a performance of Ives' Second String Quartet, over which Ives' comments on his unpopularity are quoted. Further praise of him from Copland. Shots of the Ives home in Danbury, over which Thompson describes musical taste in late 19th century America. Shots of a performance of his Fourth String Quartet, over which Ives' hostility to conventional concert music is quoted. Stills of genteel musical gatherings. Still of the Ives family, over which Thompson describes Ives' father. Short dramatised sequence showing young Ives singing to his father accompaniment. Ives' own tribute to his father is quoted over film showing the young Ives making music with water-filled glasses. Various stills of Yale, where Ives was a student. Thompson describes Yale musical conservatism. Archive film of New York at the turn of the century. Over assorted stills of New York Ives' business career is described. Shots of his Connecticut home. John Kirkpatrick plays Ives' Concord Sonata from Ives own studio. Kirkpatrick describes Ives' attitude to performances of his works and assesses Ives' achievements. Portrait of Ives. Thompson briefly outlines Ives' beliefs. Still of Ives, then shots of abstract art from the 1913 Armory Exhibition. Hostile American reactions to modern art are described and shown in newspaper cuttings. Performance of Ives' Second String Quartet by the Chilingirian String Quartet. Ives' character 'Rollo' is described. Stills of First World War scenes, with Ives' reaction to the war quoted over. Archive film of New York's 'Roaring Twenties'. Interviews with Copland and Carter, who describe music in the 1920s. Film of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. In interview Copland explains his attempts to write symphonic music with an American character. Stills of various young American composers, over which Thompson compares them with Ives. In interview Carter describes Ives' passionate performance of one of his own pieces. Stills of Ives in old age. Thompson describes the gradual acceptance of Ives' work. Performance of his 4th Symphony by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Over a montage of Connecticut scenes Ives' vision of the distant musical future is quoted. In a final interview Copland pays tribute to Ives' achievement. Part of his second String Quartet is played by the Chilingirian String Quartet.
Master spool number: 6HT/73026
Production number: 00525_3414
Videofinder number: 2928
Available to public: no