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Silent Film Musician |
I have been playing for silent films since I started my career as a professional musician over 30 years ago. I have always had a knack for improvisation and a sense of how to use music to support and counterpoint the film image.
In the silent film era music was always live. Some accompanists relied on the musical cue-sheets that the film studios sent around when a film was released. Some relied on collections of theme music indexed by mood: e.g. Grotesque, Gruesome, Happiness, Love-themes, etc. etc. The music is there for the audience. It enables the audience to sink into the dream world of the silver screen. The accompanist helps them to understand the story and to give a bit of relief from the relentless mechanism of a film projector.
Playing for silent movies is the marathon live performance event. The silent movies were never silent. That being said silence is one of the most effective ways of creating tension and anticipation.Sustaining music for up to two hours (or longer!) at a time is a workout. I am often reminded of the song John Henry:
"John Henry was hammering on the right side,
The big steam-drill on the left,
Before that steam-drill could beat him down
He hammered his fool self to death."
Over the years I have learned how to do less and not get trapped into trying to keep up with the film. The music helps people get distance from the movie just as much as it illustrates it. A great film almost plays for itself. When the film is mediocre or worse, music can save it from being tedious or just plain torture. When the movie is less that great the music becomes even more important. I’ve done my job when the audience enjoys the film and has a good time.
To see children laugh with their parents at a silent comedy is a one of the true rewards of being a silent film pianist.
In the silent film era music was always live. Some accompanists relied on the musical cue-sheets that the film studios sent around when a film was released. Some relied on collections of theme music indexed by mood: e.g. Grotesque, Gruesome, Happiness, Love-themes, etc. etc. The music is there for the audience. It enables the audience to sink into the dream world of the silver screen. The accompanist helps them to understand the story and to give a bit of relief from the relentless mechanism of a film projector.
Playing for silent movies is the marathon live performance event. The silent movies were never silent. That being said silence is one of the most effective ways of creating tension and anticipation.Sustaining music for up to two hours (or longer!) at a time is a workout. I am often reminded of the song John Henry:
"John Henry was hammering on the right side,
The big steam-drill on the left,
Before that steam-drill could beat him down
He hammered his fool self to death."
Over the years I have learned how to do less and not get trapped into trying to keep up with the film. The music helps people get distance from the movie just as much as it illustrates it. A great film almost plays for itself. When the film is mediocre or worse, music can save it from being tedious or just plain torture. When the movie is less that great the music becomes even more important. I’ve done my job when the audience enjoys the film and has a good time.
To see children laugh with their parents at a silent comedy is a one of the true rewards of being a silent film pianist.
Two Scenes from HER NIGHT OF ROMANCE (1924)
In the opening scene we see Ronald Coleman playing Lord Paul Menford as he bumps into an American heiress...
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