Short History of Film Music: Ep. 1 Silent Movies Era

Summary

At the close of the 19th century, cinema was in its infancy, with moving pictures introduced by the Lumière brothers in 1895. Silent films were accompanied by live music, which, at first, lacked direct correlation to the scenes. Over time, original scores began to emerge, thanks to composers like Camille Saint-Saëns. However, practical challenges led to the use of music fake books and cue sheets. These methods were eventually replaced by synchronized sound, ushering in the era of ‘talkies’ in the late 1920s, revolutionizing how music was integrated into films.

Takeaways

• 😀 The telephone was only 20 years old in 1895, and only a small percentage of people had one in their homes.
• 😀 Horses and trains were still the primary means of transportation, with automobiles not yet common.
• 😀 The first flight of an airplane was still a decade away in 1895.
• 😀 Electric lights were only 15 years old, and gas lights were still the primary source of artificial light.
• 😀 Einstein's Theory of General Relativity had not yet been proposed, and major scientific breakthroughs were still to come.
• 😀 People primarily listened to classical music by composers like Brahms, Wagner, and Mozart, instead of modern composers.
• 😀 The Lumière brothers invented moving pictures, and their 1895 film debut marked the beginning of cinema for mass audiences.
• 😀 Early films were silent, with no sound on the screen, leading to the era known as The Silent Movies Era.
• 😀 Musicians played live accompaniments to silent films, but these were not always tied to the plot or dramatic events in the movie.
• 😀 The concept of original music for films emerged in 1908, with Camille Saint-Saëns composing the first film score for a movie.
• 😀 Music Fake Books and cue sheets were used as alternatives to original scores, helping music directors select appropriate pieces for films.

Q & A

What were the main forms of long-distance communication at the end of the 19th century?

At the end of the 19th century, long-distance communication relied primarily on letters and the telegraph. The telephone, which had been invented 20 years prior, was not yet widely accessible.

How were transportation methods different from today in 1895?

In 1895, horses and trains were common modes of transportation, with automobiles still rare. The first flight of an airplane was still a decade away.

What significant technological advancement in lighting occurred around 1895?

Electric lights were only 15 years old in 1895, and gas lights were still the primary method of artificial lighting in homes and streets.

How did the Lumière brothers contribute to the development of cinema?

The Lumière brothers invented moving pictures in 1895, debuting their short film 'Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory,' which is considered one of the first films for mass audiences.

What characterized the Silent Movies Era?

The Silent Movies Era, which began in the late 19th century, was characterized by films without synchronized sound. Music was often played live in theaters to accompany the films.

What role did music play in early films?

In early films, music provided a background atmosphere but did not follow the plot. It was typically played live by a pianist or small orchestra to enhance the viewing experience.

What were 'Music Fake Books' and how were they used in early cinema?

Music Fake Books were collections of pre-written music, organized by mood, that music directors could choose from to accompany films. They helped directors select appropriate music for different scenes, though transitions between pieces were often problematic.

How did the introduction of 'cue sheets' improve music accompaniment in films?

Cue sheets, developed by Max Winkler, provided specific timings and guidelines for music to accompany different scenes in a film. This made the process more structured and efficient compared to using Music Fake Books.

Why did the practice of using Music Fake Books and cue sheets not last long?

These practices were eventually replaced by the revolution of 'talkies' in the late 1920s, when synchronized sound in films eliminated the need for live musical accompaniment or pre-selected music.

How did the transition from silent films to 'talkies' impact the use of music in cinema?

The advent of 'talkies' marked the beginning of modern film scoring, as synchronized sound in films made music an integral part of the cinematic experience, replacing the earlier reliance on live music or pre-existing scores.