It took me at least a few years to find a way to re-tune my thoughts about what you might call non-traditional scoring for silent films. Attending and performing at the “Silent Film Days” festival in Tromsø, Norway for many… Read More »New Sounds For Silents
Like many people who are into classic film, I only knew Harry Myers as the drunk millionaire in Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights (1931). I knew he didn’t just appear out of nowhere, hand-picked form obscurity the way Virginia Cherrill had… Read More »Before When Harry Met Charlie
When I began accompanying silent films in college, there was very little in the way of resources. I was, however, loaned a copy of a small monograph on the subject written by Charles Hofmann, who had been one of the… Read More »Charles Hofmann – MoMA Film Accompanist, Briefly
The second time I play for a film is my first big chance to make improvements over what I did the first time. If my first bash at the picture was a show where I’d not been able to preview… Read More »From The Horse’s Mouth
I never have a good answer for the question I am asked the most at show Q&A’s and in interviews and in social situations. I really should. I’ve certainly been asked it enough times. “What is your favorite film or… Read More »My Favorite Things
The Scarecrow (1920) has gradually become one of my alternate go-to Keaton shorts for audiences. In the event I’ve already shown them One Week, or am doing a general audience program for a newbie crowd, this one really lands. It’s… Read More »A Breakfast Ballet with Buster and Joe
One of the challenges in scoring a silent film is dealing with the fact that occasionally, there are musical numbers performed or sung. Often, the song is sung or performed in its entirety. In most cases it’s impossible to synch… Read More »Song and Dance in Silent Movies
There’s a pleasant little moment in Sunrise (1927), after the couple has rescued a runaway pig from an arcade game. The dance band strikes up a peasant tune and asks the couple to dance. There’s even a close-up of the… Read More »Playing the Music On Screen When It’s Not a Match
One of the reasons a majority of people associate the piano with silent film, as opposed to theatre organ or orchestra, is that it had been the type of accompaniment utilized the most on a majority of home video editions of… Read More »The Sounds of the Silents — Theatre Organ on DVD
On paper, when you look at it, the word “accompanist” is easy to read. And yet, half the time or maybe more, when I am introduced at a show, the word comes out with an extra syllable. It probably happens… Read More »Is Accompanist a Five-Syllable Word?