Published: October 21, 2009 07:54 am      

Students bring silent films to life

TRAVERSE CITY -- Charting new territory, Traverse City Central High School orchestra students will turn back the clock to a bygone movie era.

The school's three string orchestras, totaling about 75 musicians, will accompany silent movies at the State Theatre Monday evening. Proceeds from the event will help fund trips to state and national conferences later this school year. This includes a trip in February by the advanced Philharmonic orchestra to California to perform at the invitation of the American String Teachers Association.

Always looking for something new, both musically for her students and to raise money, orchestra director Ellen Boyer conceived of the silent movie idea. After booking the State Theatre, she enlisted her students' help selecting films.

First stop was the the Traverse Area District Library, where students delved into their extensive collection of silent movies. After multiple screenings of these and other movies, each of the three orchestras selected a short, 30-minute film. A five-minute intermission is planned between films.

The freshman Concert orchestra will accompany the Buster Keaton film "Balloonatic" with a series of folk tunes. The Symphony orchestra will play a score including American composers Leroy Anderson and Percy Grainger during the film "Behind the Screen" starring Charlie Chaplain.

"It's on the lighter side, new territory," noted Boyer of this music.

The "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," a classic German horror film from 1919, rounds out the evening's program. Boyer noted that parents attending with young children might want to leave during the intermission before this movie. Central's Philharmonic orchestra will present music by Paul Hindemith, a German composer, to accompany this film.

"The music fits with the theme of the movie, it's contrasts with the other two, which are lighter works," said Michael Roskelley, a senior violin player in the Philharmonic orchestra.

Boyer found selecting the music a challenge after she discovered that some original silent movies were just that, silent. She searched for music that would best follow and enhance the story.

"The first films we looked at, in the original there was no music," Boyer noted. "Then, when they were reissued in the 40s, the music was random. One had a Bach 'Toccata in Fugue' that didn't fit at all."

Many of the students had never seen a silent movie before, where the characteristic exaggerated acting and streamlined story line provides a stark contrast to modern movies. As these young musicians play for an audience who also might not have experienced a silent film, the music will both sketch moods and provide a narrative bridge in place of dialog.

These musical effects will be much more muted than a modern movie's precise score.

"It's not like seeing a movie today, where every second the music sometimes forecasts what's going to happen and you can hear the mood change with the music," Boyer said.

Students have been learning the music during classes this fall, expanding their repertoire as they prepare for Monday's event. First they mastered the music and then the trickier step of coordinating it with the movie.

"You have to trust that the conductor knows what they're doing," said Megan Gratiot, a junior cello player.

As the days tick by, the excitement is building as the event draws nearer.

"It's not so bad to say you've played at the State Theatre," said Alyssa Hartman, a senior viola player.

Creating a fundraiser that melds old and new technology while spanning generations has proven to be a winning idea for a benefit. Organizers hope to draw attendees of all ages and already a buzz has built up at the school.

"Movies do grab the kids because it's really a part of their world," Boyer said. "I think we're amazed at really how advanced these films are. Really, when you think of the movie industry being in it's infancy, what they did on screen is amazing."

Traverse City Central High School orchestras will present Silent Movies at the State Theatre at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26. Admission is by donation.