Silent Film Flashcards
How many periods for silent film history are there?
three
Early cinema was from what year to what year
1895-1905
how was music adapted to the situation?
either a vaudeville play or a lecture series (accompanied by slides)
what was the name of the period of silent film history from 1905-1915
Nickelodeon era
in the nickelodeon area a combination of short reels were used. how many reels and how long were they?
2-3 reels of 10-18 minutes each with live entertainment in between reels
what was used as accompaniment in the nickelodeon era?
piano, organ, or small ensemble of instruments (or a phonograph)
music wasnt used to match the screen action. what was is used for in the nickelodeon era? later on it was used for accompaniment and not entertainment, new types of music would later be used… what three music was preferred after 1910?
to draw in wealthy patrons
and as entrance and exit music
-light, classical, melodramatic mood music.
1. songs (titles linked to the story)
2. classical music for drama
3. musical topics and moods taken from melodramas
what is the primary music using for silent films? and why?
musical topics/moods
- more easily adapted to the narrative rather than songs or classical music (posed synchronization challenges)
collections of music suitable for a variety of scenes, aimed at local nickelodeons
Musical suggestions
who were the first to release musical suggestions?
The Edison Company
there were ____ sheets for a single movie. (i.e Frankenstein of 1910) that became outdated but they could be used over and over again
cue sheets
- list of compositions, with their placement, sent out by studios or their agents as suggestions for theatre musicians. silent film or sound-film era?
- what could the cue sheets have?
- during the silent film era –> cue sheets
- could have music (a few notes) or not (just titles)
a legal document that lists all music that appears on the sound track of a film
cue sheets in sound-film era
what is the musical suggestions collection from 1910 Frankenstein
The Edison Kinetogram
moods (topics) are suggested by ______
what is andante and moderato
tempo
andante- walking pace-slower (topic for heroine)
moderato- moderately-faster (neutral music)
supplied general music topics for a variety of scenes/situations
cue sheet collections or musical mood anthologies
example of drawn on well known classical music pieces by 19th-century composers as well as melodrama topics
Hurry’s
Lyle C. True’s How and What to
Play for Moving Pictures: A
Manual and Guide for Pianists
what type of music does it list?
catalog of suitable music
new and old music
What is the name of the silent film period occurring between 1915–1929
Picture palace era
what was the stratification of exhibition in large cities and small towns?
large venue with an orchestra and organ in large cities.
small modest theatres in smaller towns
What did the show include in the picture palace era
picture, live entertainment, hall, ushers, lobby. idea of pampering the spectator.
who was Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel
owned Roxy theatre and Radio City Music Hall
what did a typical program at a large theatre include
overture, the feature (main picture), several short films (comedy and newsreel) and live performances.
music-only component of the show
overture
what was the name of the organ that was a staple of the theatre–> one man orchestra with sound effects
Mighty Wurlitzer organ
What do we mean by “fitting the picture” in the picture palace era
- Compilation scores and improvisation continued to dominate
- theatre with orchestra and organ would split the duties between ensembles
What was more prestigious and reliable than improvisation in the 1920s
was is harder or easier than improvisation?
compilation scores
- not original music written for the film, preexisting works was gathered and ordered for the performance
- harder to consistently reflect/match the action of the film
what began to be commissioned for use in movies –> incidental music, soundtrack music, and themes written specifically for the accompaniment of silent film
collections of _______ were printed and sold
photoplay music
moods
like earlier catalogues, provides all manner of musical moods or topics.
-newly composed pieces
Erno Rapee’s Encyclopedia of
Music for Pictures
does Erno Rapee’s Encyclopedia of
Music for Pictures draw on classical repertoire or well known songs?
NO
how are pieces arranged in the Erno Rapee’s Encyclopedia of Music for Pictures
-give examples
in series
- The Agitato series
- The Hurry series
how are pieces identified?
Through their function; light, medium (neutral)
these catalogues/collections were more _____ and permitted “_______” input.
flexible; artistic
what were special scores in the 1920s?
- music composed for specific films and distributed by studios along with the film
- a feature of extended-run or road shows was a commissioned score for that particular film
movies that travelled with picture and original score
shown in theatrical (vs.picture palace) style: reserved seating.
how many shows a day?
was the theatre with motion picture or play?
any music could be played with the film in road show films, what is this called?
road shows
1 or 2 shows a day
motion picture
regular release
__ ______ music during filming was common
on-set
what kind of music did musicians provide (pianist - 30-piece orchestra) ?
mood music
name of a sound film era movie that shows the transition from silent film to sound film
what kind of music did musicians provide
Singin’ in the rain
music on-set during filming
what kind of music was used for action scenes. What type of code is this?
Hurry music
standard code
what theme was used for romantic scenes. what type of code is this
Love themes
standard code
what was used for main titles? what type of code is this?
Overture, fanfare
standard code
what is the name of the themes associated with characters
cinematic musical codes
name of codes involving topics
cultural musical codes
a short idea can be called what?
a motif, theme or motive
if it lasts more than 10 seconds and has two parts it is called a _____
theme
a theme proper is usually a ________ idea composed of two phrases
complete
Wagner term used consistently in Der Ring des Nibelungen
Leitmotif
what do themes refer to
characters, objects, even ideas (Redemption through love)
Leitmotifs are more directly associated with a character or object. What do leitmotifs represent/signify?
the character/idea and the context/situation of the character
changes in what can be used to reflect the present situation of the character?
changes in orchestration tempo dynamics meter rhythm mode (from major to minor) accompaniment
Conventional musical figures (ideas or styles) that generally represent moods/narrative traits
musical topics
why is love theme music a topic?
has a specific “stye” that marks it as a love theme
what contributes to the style, making the music a particular topic?
orchestration, tempo, texture
Examples of love theme topics
orchestration - violins (strings)
texture- melody (usually slow and long sustained tones) with flowing, smooth accompaniment
tempo- slower, “andante”
specific style that marks it as a love theme is often associated with the ________ (in which case they almost function like a _______)
heroine; leitmotif
what creates a certain expectation of the narrative
give an example
characteristic sounds of topics
loud, fast, percussive music for battle
distinct sets of topics have clear _____ derived meaning
give example
culturally
battle, storm, have similar elements
love theme vary: highborn vs country love
what can topics suggest?
give examples
Topics that represent the “exotic” of “foreign” are called
A location
-anthems
Stereotypical
- Tchaikovsky’s arabian dance represents a whole range of locations that were exotic.
anthologies that provided the whole range of topics possible: moods, affects, music for specific characters, scenes, dances (organized according to nationality and class)
Rapee’s Motion Picture Moods
