8mm Forum: What Music for Silent Comedies?

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Topic: What Music for Silent Comedies?

Richard Bock
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 239
From: El Cerrito,CA,USA
Registered: Jan 2010

posted February 14, 2013 08:47 AM

On another thread, someone asked what music to play with silent films. I have no problem with silent films being silent, especially the features. For Laurel and Hardy, I use Leroy Shields (the original composer of the Laurel and Hardy 'sound') played by the Australian band with original instruments, The Beau Hunks. It sounds very much like the original as they are playing Leroy Shields' original music. Both CD's are chocked full of music for silent comedies.

http://www.amazon.com/Show-Leroy-Shield/dp/B000005 YQ7/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1360851321&sr=1-1&keywords=leroy+shield

Also played by the Beau Hunks from Leroy Shields, many of the Laurel and Hardy film's music.

http://www.amazon.com/Hu nks-Original-Laurel-Hardy-Music/dp/B00002838I/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1360851489&sr=1-6&keywords=laurel+and+hardy+music

Terrific music, highly recommended.

For Chaplin I go to James P. Johnson on piano solo or Jelly Roll Morton piano solos.

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted February 20, 2013 01:49 AM

Richard for comedies I have always had good luck with instrumental jazz 78's...I have a bunch loaded on my ipod, and I just hit shuffle and let them play and it always amazes me how often they will fall right into place with the action on screen. I think there was a standard rhythm to silent comedy that matches up naturally with early jazz..

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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted February 20, 2013 08:32 AM

You had some excellent accompaniment at the last CINSEA, some of the music was from Killiam's "Movie Museum", where can I get a copy of that? - Shorty

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Tony Stucchio
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 625
From: New Jersey
Registered: Dec 2005

posted February 20, 2013 04:44 PM

When TCM played the Our Gang silents a few years ago, they used the same few pieces of music over and over again. It drove me crazy. I eventually just turned the sound off.
[Big Grin]