Date of Award

Fall 12-1-1982

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Department Not Listed

First Advisor

Roslyn Rensch Erbes

Second Advisor

Elaine Kleiner

Third Advisor

Robert L. Cowden

Abstract

This thesis will present a review and synthesis of evidence concerning the contributions made by Jean Cocteau, Erik Satie, Pablo Picasso, and Leonide Massine to the creation of the work Parade. A complete study of the exact role played by each of the collaborators in the creation of the work has never been made. Existing research studies of Parade, as Richard Axsom's "Parade": Cubism as Theater, 1979, tend to emphasize contributions made by Cocteau and Picasso and to neglect Massine's contribution and the important role Erik Satie's music had in giving shape and substance to the work. This research project is offered as an effort to correct this situation. This thesis will explore, along with the historical facts of the collaboration, the character of each of the creators. The words "creative association" imply the interaction of creative personalities. Information about the creative personalities will aid the reader in understanding the motives, inspirations, and reasons behind the ideas and actions of the collaborators. Valuable sources on Parade have been consulted. While all of the co-creators are dead, their published writings are accessible. However, all that is left of the original production is the overture curtain (housed in Paris), iv the musical score and a collection of scribbled rehearsal notes (entitled Le Cahier remain). Both of the latter have been published. Other important sources include scholarly articles and book chapters and Richard Axsom's dissertation, "Parade": Cubism as Theatre. Along with a discussion of the contributions of each collaborator and the creative association which took place, this thesis will describe the premiere performance, and consider the reaction of the critics, and subsequent effects on the collaborators. The thesis concludes with an analysis of the musical score of the work on the premise that Satie's score merits more attention than it has received in the past.

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