Horst was the musical director for the Denishawn company (1916-25) before working as musical director and dance composition teacher for Martha Graham's school and dance company (1926-48).
One memorable piece of advice that Horst gave dancers in his lessons in the 1930s, at times delivered in a sarcastic tone: "when in doubt, turn."[1][2][3][4][5] This is a variant of Ted Shawn's famous line "When in doubt, twirl."[6] The Grateful Dead Almanac adopted it as their motto.[7]
Apart from being a personal friend and mentor to Graham, Horst worked and wrote scores for many other choreographers, including:
Horst composed scores for the Denishawn company, including Japanese Spear Dance (1919). He composed several of Graham's early group works: Primitive Mysteries (1931), Celebration (1934), Frontier (1935), and El Penitente (1940). For Anna Sokolow, Horst composed Noah (1935). He also composed several movie scores.
Horst lectured often on "Dance Composition", "Music Composition for Dance", and "Modern Dance and Its Relation to the Other Modern Arts". He wrote and published two books: Pre-classic Dance Forms (1937) and Modern Dance Forms (1960). He founded and edited Dance Observer Journal (1933-64).
"There was no choreography in those days. We didn't even know the word." Dances were just arranged routines. [...] On a later tour, there was a time, according to Agnes de Mille, when Miss Ruth passed by the piano, which was on stage, asking Louis how much longer she had to go. He murmured encouragingly, that it was only once more around the space and to put in a few spins. This may be the source of his later comments in classes in the '30s in New York "When in doubt, turn", although by then it had become a sarcastic and sardonic comment.
You know, Ted Shawn, the choreographer--he used to say, 'When in doubt, twirl.' Oh, I do think that's such a great line.
^Grateful Dead Almanac, lonehombre.com; accessed February 9, 2018.
^Fishgall, Gary (2002). Gregory Peck : a biography. New York: Scribner. pp. 55-56. ISBN0-684-85290-X. OCLC 48952197.
External linksEdit
Louis Horst collection (of scores) in the Music Division of .
October 21, 2023
louis, horst, born, january, 1884, kansas, city, missouri, died, january, 1964, york, city, composer, pianist, helped, define, principles, modern, dance, choreographic, technique, most, notably, matching, choreography, existing, musical, structure, contemporar. Louis Horst born January 12 1884 Kansas City Missouri died January 23 1964 New York City was a composer and pianist He helped to define the principles of modern dance choreographic technique most notably the matching of choreography to pre existing musical structure and the use of contemporary music for dance scores Contents 1 Biography and work 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksBiography and work EditHorst was the musical director for the Denishawn company 1916 25 before working as musical director and dance composition teacher for Martha Graham s school and dance company 1926 48 One memorable piece of advice that Horst gave dancers in his lessons in the 1930s at times delivered in a sarcastic tone when in doubt turn 1 2 3 4 5 This is a variant of Ted Shawn s famous line When in doubt twirl 6 The Grateful Dead Almanac adopted it as their motto 7 Apart from being a personal friend and mentor to Graham Horst worked and wrote scores for many other choreographers including Ruth St Denis Ted Shawn Helen Tamiris Martha Hill Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman Agnes de Mille Ruth Page Michio Ito Adolph Bolm Harald Kreutzberg Pearl Lang Jean Erdman Anna Sokolow Horst s assistant and demonstratorCareer EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Louis Horst news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Horst composed scores for the Denishawn company including Japanese Spear Dance 1919 He composed several of Graham s early group works Primitive Mysteries 1931 Celebration 1934 Frontier 1935 and El Penitente 1940 For Anna Sokolow Horst composed Noah 1935 He also composed several movie scores Horst taught art of choreography at Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater 1928 1964 8 Bennington College 1934 45 Mills College Connecticut College 1948 63 Barnard College Sarah Lawrence College Columbia University and The Juilliard School 1951 64 Horst lectured often on Dance Composition Music Composition for Dance and Modern Dance and Its Relation to the Other Modern Arts He wrote and published two books Pre classic Dance Forms 1937 and Modern Dance Forms 1960 He founded and edited Dance Observer Journal 1933 64 In 1964 he became the second recipient of the Heritage Award of the National Dance Association References Edit Madden 1996 p 36 quote There was no choreography in those days We didn t even know the word Dances were just arranged routines On a later tour there was a time according to Agnes de Mille when Miss Ruth passed by the piano which was on stage asking Louis how much longer she had to go He murmured encouragingly that it was only once more around the space and to put in a few spins This may be the source of his later comments in classes in the 30s in New York When in doubt turn although by then it had become a sarcastic and sardonic comment Soares Janet Mansfield 1992 pg 55 Soares Janet Mansfield 1958 64 Private papers class notes and personal conversations Focus on dance Volume 5 1969 p 6 quote Horstiana When in doubt turn Lynne Anne Blom L Tarin Chaplin 1989 p 48 quote Although turning is powerful be cautious of the attitude When in doubt turn Stephen Schiff 1992 Edward Gorey and the Tao of Nonsense in The New Yorker November 9 pg 94 quote You know Ted Shawn the choreographer he used to say When in doubt twirl Oh I do think that s such a great line Grateful Dead Almanac lonehombre com accessed February 9 2018 Fishgall Gary 2002 Gregory Peck a biography New York Scribner pp 55 56 ISBN 0 684 85290 X OCLC 48952197 External links EditLouis Horst collection of scores in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Louis Horst amp oldid 980964736, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
