In this episode: Ben talks about accompanying Laurel & Hardy’s pie fight in “The Battle of the Century”, for a decisive moment for Keaton’s character in “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”, for Ozu’s “A Story of Floating Weeds”, and for Raymond Griffith… Read More »ep. 64: The Fierce Urgency of Silent Film Music
Episode 64 Show Notes: The Fierce Urgency of Silent Film Music On this episode, Ben and Kerr talk specifically about the importance of spontaneity in providing musical accompaniment to performances of silent film Laurel & Hardy shorts (restored) in the… Read More »Episode 64 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
Episode 63 Show Notes: Scoring Decisions and Transitions Ben continues exploring the various techniques and shadings of the matter of scoring the action going on inside a character’s head in silent film. Ben discusses his busy schedule this spring, which… Read More »Episode 63 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
In this episode: Ben recaps his month’s activities in March 2024, talks about the subtleties of underscoring dramatic moments when a main character thinks through an important decision, a creative way to invent main themes for a program of 7… Read More »ep. 63: Scoring Decisions and Transitions
Episode 62 Show Notes: “Round-up of January 2024 shows, and more” Theme & Introductions Introduction Live Performances of Improvised Scores The Importance of Experiencing Silent Films presented with Live Music Silent Film Comedian Marcel Perez Intermission – Home Video activities… Read More »Episode 62 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
In this episode: Ben accompanies Tom Mix in “Sky High” at the Library of Congress, adapting for organ some themes he originally composed for piano; Ben and Kerr discuss the importance of seeing silents with live music, and how a… Read More »ep. 62: accompanying a Mary Pickford film on campus, Marcel Perez at the Silent Clowns, Monta Bell at MoMA, and more
Episode 61 Show Notes: “Improvising Themes for Re-Use and Development” Theme & Introductions Ben and Kerr discuss the dearth of holiday movies from the Silent Era Ben talks about recording the new Podcast Theme on a grand piano at MOMA.… Read More »Episode 61 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
In this episode: Ben shares his experiences accompanying the silent era blockbuster “The Big Parade”, the rare Italian film “A’ Santanotte”, Laurel & Hardy shorts, and others; he and Kerr discuss the practices of creating leitmotifs on the fly during… Read More »ep. 61: Improvising Themes for Re-Use and Development
Episode 60 Show Notes: “Music on the Road: Late Summer – Autumn 2023” Ben demonstrates contrasting styles and instrument sounds for shows of The Loves of Casanova (1927), Safety Last (1923), Second Fiddle (1923). Theme & Introductions MoMA in August… Read More »Episode 60 show notes: The Silent Film Music Podcast
In this episode: accompanying several films at MoMA in August of new restorations and a series of early color process silents; audience response difference between San Francisco Silent Film Festival and MoMA screening, and how this affected Ben’s score in… Read More »ep. 60: Music on the Road: Late Summer – Autumn 2023