1958 - APPALACHIAN SPRING, a record of choreographer Martha Graham's ballet.

Martha Graham, a choreographer and dancer and a woman who literally worked until she died was persuaded to allow one of her most famous ballets Appalachian Spring to be filmed.  Graham had apparently been very resistant to photographing her choreography but this performance turned out very well.

Graham had conceived the ballet in the 1940's and composer Aaron  Copland in collaboration with Graham wrote the music.  It was one of her most successful productions.  Graham was considered to old for the main lead the young bride at the time of the filming but she was insistent that she dance the part.

 

The story of the ballet is supposedly a tribute to the pioneering spirit of America as a young couple dance on their wedding day. Copland's music intermixed with variations  the old song Shaker song " Simple Gifts" into the ballet.

The minimalist set design was by another frequent Graham collaborator Isamu Noguchi.  Appalachian Spring was very well photographed in black and white.  It would probably be of interest to people interested in ballet and dance, this presentation this is very well done.

The running time is 30 minutes.