Thoughts on Silent Film Music
Interview with Donald Sosin
For me the process of writing and performing silent film music is a spiritual activity, as well as an enjoyable means of practicing my craft. Ironically, I am often looking for ways to make the film accompaniment more silent, so that the disappearance of music would be perceived as an integral part of the film, and not something forced upon the listener.
And even when there is music to listen to, I feel I am most successful when I am most invisible (inaudible?). By this I mean that the audience leaves the theater with very little memory of the music apart from feelings that the sounds generated. To take this approach demands complete surrender to the needs of the film, and letting go of an egotistical desire to either show off one's pianistic or compositional ability, or to "Mickey Mouse" the action unnecessarily (although such musical punctuation can often have a positive impact).
But when I speak of a spiritual activity, I mean that in the best of circumstances, the music helps to create a synergistic effect, drawing the film, the performer, the audience into one communal spirit, breathing together in harmony. To be able do this consistently, I have for many years practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, which allows me to renew myself and bring new energy and liveliness to each film screening. Heraclitus said that one never steps into the same river twice, and so I feel that each time I play for even a very familiar film, it is a new experience, that I hopefully have grown since the last screening, and that the music can therefore evolve and grow as well.
Recordings and Live Performances
For information on recordings and booking live performance, contact:
FARMHOUSE WINDOW PRODUCTIONS
41 Horseshoe Lane
Lakeville CT 06039
Tel: (860) 435-4687
Fax: (928) 752-3417
info@silent-film-music.com
Copyright © Donald Sosin and Farmhouse Window Productions.