Research Catalog

Interview with Valda Setterfield

Title
Interview with Valda Setterfield, 1982-06-05.
Author
Setterfield, Valda
Publication
June 5, 1982.

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors
  • Vaughan, David, 1924-
  • Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, donor.
Found In
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
Description
1 streaming audio file (43 minutes) : digital, stereo
Summary
Begins abruptly; Valda Setterfield speaks with David Vaughan about her time in the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and how Merce Cunningham made roles for the specific dancers; she speaks about Cunningham's shift towards creating ensemble based works and gives an example of how her role in Rebus (1975) was danced by another dancer for a tour; she speaks about how difficult the unison material in Aeon (1961) was for the original cast; they speak about how the turnover of dancers in Setterfield's later years may have influenced Cunningham to create for ensemble; Setterfield speaks about the original quality of Second hand (1970) and the subtle use of individual dancers within it; she speaks about the private way Cunningham approached his choreography; she speaks about how Cunningham choreographed her solo in Walkaround time (1968) without demonstrating the movement; the chart Cunningham made for her role in Walkaround time; she gives examples of some of the directions Cunningham gave for her solo in Changing steps (1973); she speaks about the challenges of re-teaching her Changing steps solo to other dancers; more on the challenges of teaching original roles to new dancers; she speaks about her intuitive understanding of how to dance her part in the trio for Changing steps; she speaks about being a new dancer in the Cunningham Company and how she learned parts; she speaks about learning her part in Summerspace (1958) and tells an anecdote about a private session with Cunningham; she speaks about learning Viola Farber's role in Crises (1960) while Farber was injured; she speaks about Cunningham's approach to choreography, and how he paid attention to unique details in both his dancers and in life; she tells an anecdote about Cunningham's quick mind and a rehearsal of Scramble (1967); she speaks about being an understudy for the Company while they were in residency at Connecticut College and how this gave her a personal connection with Cunningham; she speaks about the American Ballet Theatre's performances of Duets (1980); she speaks about the revivals of Cunningham's older works and ways that the new versions differ from the originals; Setterfield speaks about learning, along with Meg Harper, Barbara [Dilley's] role in RainForest (1968) including the challenges of dancing it and the quality Setterfield brought to the part; she speaks about performing Farber's part in Field dances (1963) in Chicago and a conversation she had with Cunningham about ways to approach the performing of it; [brief recording break]; Setterfield speaks about Cunningham's innovations and contributions as a choreographer; [brief recording break]; Setterfield gives a statement about Cunningham's energy; ends abruptly.
Alternative Title
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Audio materials.
Subject
  • Cunningham, Merce, choreographer
  • Dilley, Barbara, dancer
  • Setterfield, Valda > Interviews
  • Merce Cunningham Dance Company
  • Aeon (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
  • Changing steps (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
  • Crises (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
  • Field dances (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
  • RainForest (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
  • Second hand (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
  • Walkaround time (Choreographic work : Cunningham)
Genre/Form
  • Interviews.
  • Sound recordings.
Note
  • David Vaughan interviews Valda Setterfield, probably in [New York, New York], on June 5, 1982. This interview was created as research for David Vaughan's book, Merce Cunningham: Fifty years (New York, Aperture).
  • Title and date provided by cataloger based on audition and handwritten note on original container and cassette.
  • Handwritten note on original original container: "Chris Komar / Valda Setterfield". Handwritten note on original original cassette: "B. Valda Setterfield ; 5 June 1982".
  • Contains side b of the archival original cassette.
  • Sound quality is mostly good; there are background noises.
Access (note)
  • Patrons can access streaming audio only on site at NYPL Research Libraries.
Source (note)
  • Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation
Linking Entry (note)
  • Forms part of the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
Call Number
*LTC-A 1473
OCLC
914488118
Author
Setterfield, Valda, interviewee.
Title
Interview with Valda Setterfield, 1982-06-05.
Production
June 5, 1982.
Playing Time
004321
Type of Content
spoken word
Type of Medium
audio
Type of Carrier
audiocassette
online resource
Digital File Characteristics
audio file
Event
Originally recorded in, [New York, New York], 1982 June 5.
Restricted Access
Patrons can access streaming audio only on site at NYPL Research Libraries.
Original Version
Archival original: (1 audio cassette (83 minutes) : analog) in *LTC-A 1473.
Linking Entry
Forms part of the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
Local Note
Transferred from original analog cassette by George Blood Audio on March 26, 2015; two preservation files were created based on cassette sides.
Source
Gift; Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, 2011-2012.
Connect to:
NYPL Digital Collections
Added Author
Vaughan, David, 1924- interviewer.
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, donor.
Added Title
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Audio materials.
Found In:
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
Research Call Number
*LTC-A 1473
View in Legacy Catalog