Music/Dance
December 2005

The following titles are available at Vairo Library. Film descriptions are from the LIAS CAT entries, most of which are copied or derived from the film containers. For more information on any of the titles, search the LIAS CAT by title, and limit the material type to Video Material.

African cultural affairs in motion. (1992)
Performance of Nigerian dances and songs including boys' and men's masquerades, spider dances on ropes atop poles 75-100 feet high and dances on stilts.

Ailey dances. (1982)
A ballet performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, along with commentary on Ailey as artist and his work.

Alma y corazon. (1991)
Popular music Latin America.

Amazing grace with Bill Moyers. (1990)
A moving history of the timeless, inspirational hymn Amazing grace, along with a narrative of its lyricist, John Newton.

The Banshee and other piano pieces -- Cowell. (1977)
Uses various paintings, photographs, and pictures to illustrate the music of American composer Henry Cowell. Presents performances of seven of his piano pieces. Includes, in addition to The banshee, Aeolian harp, Exultation, The tides of Manaunaun, Advertisement, Fabric, and The Fairy answer. Precedes each piece with a spoken introduction by the composer.

Baryshnikov by Tharp with the ABT. (1984)
Three ballets by Twyla Tharp that tell no story but are full of the vitality, daring, intelligence, and emotional depth that a great dancer possesses. Tharp's approach is personal, radical, and contemporary, and she combines this vision with the classical artist's regard for form and technique to bring the viewer a memorable record of one of the greatest dancers of our era.

Baryshnikov by Tharp with the ABT. (1990)
Three ballets by Twyla Tharp that tell no story but are full of the vitality, daring, intelligence and emotional depth that a great dancer possesses. Tharp's approach is personal, radical and contemporary, and she combines this vision with the classical artist's regard for form and technique to bring the viewer a memorable record of one of the greatest dancers of our era.

Baryshnikov the dancer and the dance. (1983)
Profile of Mikhail Baryshnikov. Includes the complete ballet "Configurations" choreographed by Choo San Goh.

Bizet's Carmen. (1984)
Film version of the classic opera, with Migenes-Johnson as Carmen who seduces and then spurns the young army corporal played by Domingo. Made for the screen and shot on location in Andalusia Spain.

Bodas de sangre = Blood wedding. (1986)
Flamenco interpretation of the classic drama by Federico Garcia Lorca. The National Ballet of Spain is first shown arriving at the dance studio, making up and rehearsing, dramatizing the technique by which they transform themselves into a unified dance company. The story of murderous passion and revenge is told entirely through dance without dialogue. A young bride runs off from her wedding with a married lover. Her jilted husband tracks them down and fights a knife duel to the death.

Broadway, the American musical.    (2004)

This is the first comprehensive documentary series to chronicle the entire razzle-dazzle history of this unique American art form. Each episode chronicles a different era in American history, and features the Broadway shows and songs that defined the period. The series draws on a wealth of feature films, rare television moments, archive news footage, original cast recordings, still photos, diaries, journals, intimate first person accounts, and on-camera interviews with many of the principals involved in creating the American musical.

Can't stop now. (1998)
"This film features six dancers, who at the height of their powers were among the world's most praised artists. Thanks to the vision of Jiri Kylian of Netherlands Dance Theatre III, these superb dancers have been able to continue their careers beyond the age of forty. Their remarkable performances break all stereotypes of the older dancer"--Container.

Carmen. (1986)
Auditioning dancers for a flamenco ballet adaptation of the opera Carmen, charismatic choreographer discovers a fiery new leading lady. During rehearsals they become involved in a torrid affair whose emotions parallel the story of jealousy and betrayal in the production.

Chuck Berry hail! hail! rock 'n' roll. (1988)
Reveals the man behind the legend by portraying rock's founding father. Capped by Berry's star-studded concert in St. Louis.

The Classical dance of Thailand. (1992)
Folklore and classic epics expressed in dance, all in a special selection of styles and traditions from the north to the south of Thailand.

A Composer's notes Philip Glass and the making of an opera. (1985)
Details the background of Glass's opera Akhnaten as it was produced simultaneously in Germany and the United States. Glass provides ongoing commentary as the viewer is taken from background research in Egypt, to staging and preparation, including discussions with both directors and leads, and to opening nights in Stuttgart and Houston.

Dance to live Philadanco dancemakers, a few sketches. (2004)
Tells the personal stories of the dancers at Philadanco -- the Philadelphia-based African-American modern dance company. With revealing, sincere testimonials from young dancers, Dance to live brings viewers into the world of dance that is normally hidden behind curtains, costumes, posters and the glamour of the stage. Philandanco was the first pilot dance company of an arts training program under the State of Pennsylvania, Comprehensive Education Training Act. The dance company was also the founder of the International Conference of Black Dance Companies and International Association of Blacks in Dance that addresses the special needs of the African American dance community.

Dancing. (1993)
Examines and celebrates dance from around the world, from traditional dance to classical ballet.

The Definitive Elvis: 25th anniversary. (2002)
Elvis is considered a one-of-a-kind entertainer, who has inspired many in the music industry, including today's young artists. This spans Elvis' musical career from his early beginnings until his last performance.   

Discovering the music of Japan. (1987)
Demonstrates three important Japanese instruments: the koto, the shakuhachi, and the shamisen, and explains how they fit into Japanese life. Includes performances of traditional singing and dancing, and pieces played by an ensemble of the three instruments.

Discovering the music of Latin America. (1987)
Traces the history of Latin America music, pointing out the incorporation of many traditions, particularly Indian and Spanish. Presents some of the modern derivatives, such as popular dance rhythms of the tango and the rhumba. Includes examples of pre-Columbian and modern instruments.

Don Quixote. (1933)
The story of an old Spaniard who transforms himself into a knight-errant and takes up arms in the defense of the weak and oppressed.

Don't look back
This film is about the sixties and Bob Dylan who is shown to be more than just a folk singer and a song writer. Pennebaker filmed Dylan during his 1965 English tour, catching him in private moments as well as public performances.

The Doors. (1991)
Biographical film about one of the most exciting and controversial figures of the 60s- Jim Morrison. With his rock and roll band, The Doors, he influenced the rock music scene as no other group had.

Edith Piaf la vie en rose. (1998)
This program, updated in 1998, pays tribute to Edith Piaf by examining her life through archival footage, photos, and the personal commentary of Piaf historian Raquel Bitton and others.

Eternal waltz. (1996)
Dramatized musical biography of 19th century Austrian composer, Johann Strauss, the waltz king.   

Fiddle-de-dee. (1947)
A sparkling visual interpretation of "Listen to the Mockingbird" as played by an old-time fiddler [Eugene Desormeaux]. Painting directly on the film, Norman McLaren translated sound into sight, creating this humorous gambol.

Franz Schubert, 1797-1828
[a concise biography and musical overview]. (1996)

A Great day in Harlem. (1995)
A documentary about a photograph taken in 1958 by Art Kane of the jazz greats of the period. Includes home movie footage of that day of the musicians arriving and greeting each other the morning of the shoot. Also includes conversations with musicians and archival performance footage.

Hair. (1988)
Musical depicting the turbulent sixties through upbeat musical numbers and dramatic sequences.

Ireland in song. (1988)
Maggie -- Galway Bay -- Little Bridget Flynn -- Fields of Athenry -- The mason's apron / The Cassidys -- My Irish Molly O / Frank & The Cassidys -- Away from the roll of the sea -- Tipperary so rare -- The last rose of summer / Eanan -- An Irish lullaby (Tooraloora) / Frank & Elly [i.e. Eily] -- The marino waltz / Eanan -- Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland -- Red sails in the sunset -- Memory (Cats) -- Danny boy -- How great Thou art.

The Irish -- and how they got that way. (1999)
Welcome to the world according to Frank! Enjoy his irreverent but affectionate history of the Irish in America that mingles laughter and sentiment with classical songs and stories.

Islamic art. (1988)
"Discusses the architecture and sculpture of mosques and Koranic schools, the illumination and calligraphy of sacred texts, music, the art of the garden, and the influence of the abstract arabesque on Western art." -- container.

Jazz. (2000)
10 episodes tracing the history of jazz from its roots in the African-American community of New Orleans to its heights and continuing presence. Includes archival video, still photographs, historical performances, and newly recorded interviews and musical performances.

Jazz Masters video collection. (1990)
Drawn from vintage American television, this collection brings together some of the greatest jazz artists of the 1950's and 1960's.

Kiss me Kate. (1992)
Lilli Vannessi and Fred Graham, a battling, once-married couple, are reunited to star in a musical version of The taming of the shrew. On stage they fight it out and backstage they continue to clash. But backstage and downstage, viewers get to see lavish numbers and hear wonderful Cole Porter tunes.

La Boheme. (1982)
The story of poor artists in Paris. Rodolfo falls in love with Mimi who is ill and dies. Giacomo Puccini's fourth and best loved opera.

La Tragedie de Carmen. (1983)

La Traviata. (1991)
The story of a beautiful courtesan dying of consumption and her love for a poor nobleman. Based on Giuseppe Verdiás opera.

Las cantigas de santa maria. (1998)
The Cantigas represent a collection of over 400 miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary. The narration of these miracles was set into poetry and music. The stories and illustrations provide a glimpse into the lives of people in 13th century Spain.

Le Million. (1994)
A musical comedy about a pair of young lovers who lose a lottery ticket worth a million francs and chase it frantically across Paris.

The Magic flute = Die Zauberflote = Trollflogten. (1986)
A handsome young man is enlisted to rescue the Queen of the Night's daughter from an evil sorcerer.

Martha Graham--Three contemporary classics. (1984)
Modern dance United States.

Montparnasse revisited. (1993)
Between 1890 and World War II, Montparnasse cafes and studios overflowed with energy and creativity. Achieving universal fame as the place to break with tradition, the trendy Parisian district drew artists, writers, and musicians from around the world. This ten part series captures the vitality of those halcyon days through archival footage, magnificent color coverage of the era's art, and irreplaceable 1960's interviews with the Montparnasse masters and their friends, models, and lovers.

The Morgan State University Choir with chamber orchestra and soloists. (1990)
Spirituals (Songs) and Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with orchestra

Mozart. (1995)
The most beautiful music the world has ever known was written by a bawdy, arrogant, extravagant, yet warm-hearted man who died a pauper. Operas, symphonies, serenades, concertos -- Mozart became master of all these like no other composer before or since. But while Mozart's popularity soared, so did his taste for excess. When he died suddenly at the age of 35, he was penniless. But he left behind a musical gift that will endure forever.   

Mozart. (1989)
This film shows the life and genius of the composer who wrote over 600 works in only 36 years. The viewer will see Mozart's home in Salzburg , the streets of Vienna and an 18th century costume ball, while exploring the life of an immortal master who was haunted by death

The Music district. (1996)
The video swings to the beat of four vibrant but little known African-American musical traditions flourishing within blocks of the centers of the national power.

Music in time. (1990)
Introduction to music in the Western World. Covers music from Gregorian chant to the present.   

The Music of Mexico and South America . (1984)
Los Chicahuastles performs a variety of native music of Mexico and other Latin American countries, switching to whichever of the indigenous of Spanish-imported instruments the musical style requires.  

No direction home Bob Dylan. (2005)
The story of Bob Dylan's journey from his roots in Minnesota, to his early days in Greenwich Village coffee houses, to his ascent to pop stardom in 1966. Joan Baez, Allen Ginsburg and others share their perspectives on this influential singer.
 

Oscar Hammerstein's Carmen Jones. (1994)
In this African-American version of the classic opera, the sexy Carmen lures Joe, a handsome soldier, away from his sweetheart. Following a fatal brawl with his sergeant, Joe deserts his regiment to be with the sultry femme fatale. But Carmen soon tires of him and takes up with a heavyweight prize-fighter, triggering Joe's tragic revenge.

Otello from the Royal Opera House. (1992)
Opera

Paris is burning. (1992)
A documentary about the young homosexual men of Harlem who originated "voguing" and turned these stylized dance competitions into glittering expressions of fierce personal pride. A story of street-wise urban survival, gay self-affirmation, and the pursuit of a desperate dream.

Princess Tam Tam. (1989)
An exotic Pygmalion-like musical comedy about a French author who goes to North Africa to write a novel but becomes distracted by a native girl whom he transforms into a "princess."

Riverdance live from New York City. (1997)
Presents a live performance of Irish dance and music, with American, Spanish, and Russian performers as well.

Riverdance the show. (1996)
Presents a live performance of Irish dance and music, with American, Spanish, and Russian performers as well.

Romare Bearden visual jazz. (1995)
A bold brilliant artist, Romare Bearden created collages and paintings of stunning humanity in which he aimed to do nothing less than to redefine the image of man in terms of the African-American experience.

Salsa y tropical. (1991)
Popular music Latin America / Salsa (Music)

Satchmo Louis Armstrong. (1989)
The most diverse portrait yet of Louis Armstrong, who revolutionized the world of music and became one of the nation's most influential entertainers. No other performer of his era had such a profound effect as a singer as well as an instrumentalist. Includes excerpts of his classic performances as well as interviews with friends and colleagues.

Schubert. (1989)
Unearths the essence of Schubert, one of the most fascinating composers who ever lived. Leads us through the Schubert "Garage" where his greatest works were written, to the Viennese night life, and a gathering of 19th century students. The search for Schubert even includes encounters with a car mechanic, a museum attendant, a station master, and an organ grinder--all played by the same actor.   

Seven hills of Rome. (1994)
While in Rome to search for his Italian relatives, an American singer finds love and success.

The Shakers hands to work, hearts to God. (1996)
They called themselves the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, but because of their ecstatic dancing, the world called them Shakers. Through diaries, archival photographs, music and stunning cinematography, Ken Burns creates a moving portrait of this group.

Shall we dance? (1996)
Comedy about a middle-aged businessman who secretly yearns to break out of the rigid conformity of his daily life by learning ballroom dancing.

Some like it hot. (1988)
Two unemployed musicians accidentally witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and flee to Miami disguised as female musicians.

Some like it hot. (1997)
Two unemployed musicians accidentally witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and flee to Miami disguised as female musicians.

Some like it hot. (2001)
Two unemployed musicians accidentally witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and flee to Miami disguised as female musicians.

Stomp out loud. (1997)
Using ordinary objects, this blend of percussion, movement, and visual comedy contains material from the off-Broadway show Stomp, plus new material and interviews with the performers.

Strange fruit. (2002)
A history of the anti-lynching protest song made famous by Billie Holiday.

Through African eyes. (1995)
When first seen in the Western world in 1900, African art was viewed as strange and exotic. Yet these works, the booty of colonial wars, would influence Picasso, Matisse, and Modigliani and change the course of 20th century art. This program, while recognizing this impact, introduces noted experts who explain the importance of reappraising African art within its own cultural context. Then local Malian inhabitants in a Bamana village and the walled city of Djenne comment on the function of art and the role of the artist in their society.

Top hat. (1986)
Musical in which the path of true love is roughened by mistaken identities.

Walt Disney's Fantasia. (1991)

We shall overcome. (1989)
Narrated by Harry Belafonte, provides a history of the song, We shall overcome, and its influence on the civil rights movement.

West side story. (1988)
A modern version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set in the Puerto Rican section of New York City.

Wild women don't have the blues. (1989)
Through historic performances and recordings, captures the spirit of such pioneering blueswomen as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, and others.

Woodstock 3 days of peace & music. (1994)
This is the 25th anniversary of Woodstock, and the videotape is considered one of the best concert films ever made. This is the director's cut, a widescreen edition, with 30 minutes of previously unseen performances restored.

Zou Zou. (1989)
Warner Brothers-style backstage musical, in which a talented laundress takes the place of the lead on opening night and saves the show.

Last Updated December 19, 2005

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