Music: By Paul Hindemith (Theme with Four Variations [According to the Four Temperaments] for string orchestra and piano, 1940, commissioned by George Balanchine).

Choreography: By George Balanchine.

Production: Scenery and costumes by Kurt Seligmann. Lighting by Jean Rosenthal.

Premiere: November 20, 1946, Ballet Society, Central High School of Needle Trades, New York. Conductor: Leon Barzin. Pianist: Nicholas Kopeikine.

Cast: A. THEME: 1. Beatrice Tompkins, José Martinez; 2. Elise Reiman, Lew Christensen; 3. Gisella Caccialanza, Francisco Moncion; B. FIRST VARIATION: MELANCHOLIC: William Dollar; Georgia Hiden, Rita Karlin, 4 women; C. SECOND VARIATION: SANGUINIC: Mary Ellen Moylan, Fred Danieli, 4 women; D. THIRD VARIATION: PHLEGMATIC: Todd Bolender, 4 women; E. FOURTH VARIATION: CHOLERIC: Tanaquil Le Clercq, 3 THEME couples, Moylan, Danieli, Dollar, Bolender, entire cast.

Note: The three main themes are stated in the opening section by three successive couples. The variations are named after the four temperaments of medieval cosmology. The score, commissioned by Balanchine and completed in 1940, was partially choreographed by Balanchine during the 1941 American Ballet Caravan tour of South America for an entirely different ballet titled The Cave of Sleep; Pavel Tchelitchew created designs for costumes and décor, but the work was never produced.

Revisions: 1947, Ballet Society: Original finale, which resembled an undulating football huddle from which an erect figure (Dollar) was raised aloft, completely rechoreographed. Resulting linear formations have remained basically the same over the years, despite Balanchine's frequent small alterations. The most radical of these, the 1977 changes for Dance in America, retain the essence of the linear structure; most were transferred to the stage version. The original MELANCHOLIC VARIATION was more acrobatic than it later became. For the 1975 New York City Ballet revival, the PHLEGMATIC VARIATION was rechoreographed in part in a brighter, more extroverted style.

New Productions by Balanchine Companies: New York City Ballet: 1951, danced in practice clothes without scenery; 1964, lighting by David Hays.

Film: 1989, Seahorse Films, Dancing for Mr.B (excerpts from 1947 Ballet Society rehearsal).

Video/DVD: 1995, Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: Dancing for Mr.B (excerpts from the 1947 Ballet Society rehearsal); 1995, Nonesuch, The Balanchine Library: Choreography by Balanchine [1977]; 2004, Kultur, Balanchine (MELANCHOLIC [excerpt]).

Archival Video: George Balanchine Foundation Interpreters Archive (SANGUINIC), 1997; (PHLEGMATIC), 1998.