Miriam Arsham

In this renowned series of rare television appearances, the legendary Jascha Heifetz—often referred to as the greatest violinist of the 20th century—leads a historic master class at the University of Southern California, in 1962. Through their mixture of brilliance and informality, these classes offer a glimpse into the technique, process, and personality of a classical virtuoso.

Documentary about the life of avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren, who led the independent film movement of the 1940s.

Night Journey, the dance, had its premiere only two and a half years after Appalachian Spring, and it is a close cousin. It too has a stream-of-consciousness narration: Jocasta, as she is about to kill herself, remembering what has happened to her. It too contains soul-delving solos, broken up by ensemble dances. Here, however, the ensemble is a darker element. As the story was taken from Greek tragedy, so the corps is the equivalent of Greek tragedy’s chorus. They tell us how to feel: afraid mostly. In this piece Graham pushed her habitual economy to its limits.

Maestro Jascha Heifetz becomes Professor Heifetz in these rare filmed master classes from the early 1960s. Taken from his legendary sessions at USC, Los Angeles, this brilliant musician can be seen demonstrating, cajoling, inspiring, and occasionally terrifying his pupils as he imparts his unquestioned genius and lifetime of musical experience. Learn the secrets of intonation, phrasing, and vibrato from the man whose name has become synonymous with the violin.