Episode 53 Show Notes: Playing For The Talkies
Reflection on Episodes 51–52, Interview with William Perry, the impact and the quality of his accompaniments to silent films
William Perry’s Trobriand Music
Use of main themes and leitmotivs, especially for his new piano score for Sky High (1922) starring Tom Mix
“How To Accompany a Silent Movie for Halloween” adapted for American Guild of Organists magazine “The American Organist”, Oct 2022 issue.
Yet another reason to subscribe to Ben’s e-mail! Sign up here.
What makes you want to play for a particular film? Ben’s answer: the audience
For audiences who know the Halloween chestnuts (Phantom of the Opera, Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari), Ben played for The Bat at Cinema Arts Centre with a 35mm print from UCLA
Adding an organ score to Frankenstein (1931) at the Library of Campus Packard Campus Theatre – Culpeper VA –Walker digital Wurlitzer organ;
Finding places for music, for example, transitions
- The prologue – adding a “magical” celesta-like accompaniment
- Reveal of the creature – reaching for the light
- A transition
- The Creature menaces Elizabeth
- March of the Angry Villagers
Other early synch sound films which might accommodate live scores (Mad Love, The Three Stooges)
A recommended resource: After the Silents. Hollywood Film Music in the Early Sound Era 1926-1934 by Michael Slowik
Harold Lloyd’s The Freshman at Founder’s Hall in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on a Reuter pipe organ
Listener questions
Ben’s outro