Research Catalog

Title

Landowska / produced by Barbara Attie ; directed by Barbara Attie and Diane Pontius ; co-produced by Jane Goldwater and Diane Pontius.

Publication

Pleasantville, NY : Video Artists International, [2003], ©2003.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Landowska, Wanda.
• Attie, Barbara.
• Goldwater, Janet.
• Pontius, Diane.
• Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750.
• Francisque, Antoine, approximately 1575-1605.
• Video Artists International.

Description

1 videodisc (57 min.) : sound, color with black and white sequences; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

Documentary of the life and times of harpsichordist Wanda Landowska and how she revived the harpsichord after a century of oblivion. Segments from her only filmed appearance (a 1953 television interview) display the virtuosity of her music-making as well as her public persona, a savvy mix of humility and self-awareness. In the documentary, Landowska reflects on her life as a woman and a musician, and discusses her love of music, of her audiences, and of life itself. The documentary resonates with Landowska's music - vintage recordings of Bach, Scarlatti, Couperin, and others. We see and hear Landowska giving aggresive, dazzling performances of the music she adored, demonstrating why no one ever listened to a harpsichord in quite the same way after hearing her play.

Alternative Title

• Landowska, uncommon visionary
• Uncommon visionary : documentary on the life and art of Wanda Landowska
• Wanda Landowska : uncommon visionary

Subjects

• Harpsichord music
• Documentary films
• Harpsichordists > Interviews
• Landowska, Wanda

Note

• Originally issued in 1997 as videocassette.
• Special features: all known extant footage of Wanda Landowska playing the harpsichord, recorded in 1953 at Landowska's home in Lakeville, Conn.; performance of J.S. Bach's Goldberg variations, BWV 988 (audio only), recorded Nov. 1933 in Paris.

Credits (note)

• Peter Brownscombe, camera and sound ; Kathleen Soulliere, editor ; Leslie Valdes, music and story advisor ; Richard Troeger, music consultant.

System Details (note)

• DVD; stereo./mono.

Contents

Complete extant concert footage. Concerto for harpsichord no. 3 in D major, BWV 1054. 3rd mvt. (excerpt, solo harpsichord) / J.S. Bach (2:26) -- Branle simple / Antoine Francisque (:55) -- Concerto in D major. 2nd mvmt. / Antonio Vivaldi ; transcribed for solo harpsichord by J.S. Bach (BWV 972) (:58) -- Italian concerto : BWV 971. 1st mvt. (abridged) / J.S. Bach (1:59).

OCLC

• ocm54887545
• SCSB-9054290

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries