Gloria

The Paul Taylor Dance Company

Last night was a treat on PBS.  Boring huh? Not so.

My primary conducting teacher in college was Emanuel Balaban who I have written about before. He conducted the Ballet Russe on their great US tours in the 40s.  He used to go to ballet whenever possible, saying that if the dancing was poor, he could "close his eyes and listen to a good concert".  One way to look at ballet is, when really good, a visual explanation of the music; not in the "boy meets girl" story type of thing but of the rhythm and construction of a work.  It is "danced out" from the perspective of a musician and probably in reverse from a dancers point of view - not sure - can't dance so don't ask me.

Great Performances featured the Paul Taylor Dance Company, a group of gazelles who effortlessly float

about in solos and patterns of great gift, grace, energy and elegance. Visually, well you could turn off the sound and still get it and your eye's would get a feast well rewarded.

One work they performed was accompanied by the Poulenc's (French 20th century composer) Gloria - taken from the Latin Mass.  It's Sunday morning so appropriate. The Gloria is broken up into 6 sections (as follows), each a small movement.  Some movement "textual themes" in the Taylor choreography were inspired by Whitman's "Leaves of Grass", which was part and parcel of the inspiration.

I thought it an amazing piece in college when I played in the orchestra when we performed it and years later when I saw the ballet first (a decade back or so); the real deal mix of deep thought, great music, and once in a lifetime dance.  Last night was even better for me as I could record it digitally and play back parts of it.  

Go look him/it up. They lift your heart.

https://youtu.be/blq1BNhyyVg?si=JK-zmdicnoVs2MG6