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Musicale of primitive instruments

 Collection
Identifier: Film Collection no. 85

Scope and Contents

Willard Rhodes, Columbia University anthropologist specializing in musicology, discusses numerous musical instruments from the AMNH collection. Dancers appear on a large keyboard set to illustrate Rhodes's concepts concerning primitive music. A group of musicians give a music performance with a score especially created for this program by Samuel Barber, noted composer and Pulitzer Prize winner, using nose flutes, water gongs, a Congo piano, and other exotic and aboriginal musical instruments from the museum's collection. Most of the instruments are from China, Java, Bali, Africa, and the various Melanesian islands, although some Western instruments are added for the performance. The John Butler dancers perform to the music.

Dates

  • 1954

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Not available through inter-library loan. Contact AMNH Library Special Collections for terms of access.

Extent

1 Film Reel (30 minutes) : sound, black and white ; 16 mm.

1 Videocassette (30 minutes) ; 3/4 in.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

3/4 in., U-Matic, viewing copy

Other Finding Aids

Finding aid: script.

General

Original format: 16mm kinescope.

General

Originally aired Nov. 28, 1954 as part of the CBS/AMNH Adventure television series.

General

http://libcat1.amnh.org/record=b1138732

General

Charles Collingwood, host; Mel Ferber, director; Perry Wolff, producer; Robert Northshield and Jac Venza, asssistant producers; Perry Wolff, writer; Shelby Gordon, script editor; Joan Woodward, associate director; Grover Cole, production design; Jerry Bender, supervisor of film; Al Mifelow, program assistant; J. Jack Howerton, technical director; Myron Bleam, set director; Dean Nelson, lighting; Willian Walstrom, costumes; Glen Tetley, Mary Hinkson and Barton Mumaw of the John Butler Dancers, performers.

Title
Musicale of primitive instruments, 1954
Author
Iris Lee
Date
2018
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library Repository

Contact:
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West
New York NY 10024 USA
(212) 769-5420