New Marigny Theatre presents a performance of composer Tristan Gianola’s original score to “Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages”, the notorious 1922 Swedish-Danish silent horror film directed by Benjamin Christensen, featuring an eight-piece chamber ensemble playing live with the film.
ENSEMBLE
Tristan Gianola – Guitar/Composer/Conductor
Lauren Oglesby – Vocals/Electronics/Percussion
Rex Gregory – Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Persis Randolph – Oboe/Percussion
Gabrielle Fishler – Violin
Catherine Matushek – Viola
Jennie Brent – Cello
Otto Shrang and Jacob Gartenstein – Percussion
Rescoring the music for silent films has been a long-standing practice for composers, often drawn into the work by the love for film, film scores and the creative practices available to create a fresh accompaniment for an older work of art. When composer Tristan Gianola was given the opportunity to pursue a silent film rescoring in 2019, it didn’t take long for them to know exactly what film they wanted to pursue. Watching Häxan was a mesmerizing experience for Gianola, a film nearly two hours long with a wide range of narratives, tones, stylings and incredible visual effects from 1922. All of these factors opened up wide doors for potential in the music, and Gianola was determined to compose for the film with a variety of themes and different compositional styles for a large chamber ensemble, part acoustic and part electric. With the heart of the film being centered around justice for the innocent victims of witch hunts, as well as justice for the continued oppression of women into modern times, this was a musical mission that Gianola took deeply to heart.
Gianola rescored the film utilizing through-composed classical chamber writing and aleatoric improvisations in a unique mixed chamber ensemble of New Orleans musicians. The score is laid out in seven movements to reflect the film being divided into seven chapters. Throughout the work Gianola maintains a unifying blend of classical-inspired scoring, tastes of jazz improvisation and compelling soundscapes of both acoustic and electronic sounds. Gianola’s electric guitar work lands in the center of an acoustic chamber ensemble consisting of oboe, clarinet/bass clarinet, soprano, string trio and percussion. Expanding on the use of electronics, there is a special vocal feature with loops of wild wails and other vocal improvisations while witches fly into the night. Each member of the ensemble has featured solos throughout different passages of theme in addition to thematic writing for each instrument. With all the different themes and sound the score follows the brilliant narratives of the original film, adding a new take to this silent-film classic.
“Throughout, Gianola’s composition was attentive to every detail of the film, and the players flawlessly executed it while experimenting and improvising along the way. The composition was completely synchronized with the images, little trills timed perfectly with a raised eyebrow or comical movement, its apparent effortlessness evidence of just how much work must have gone into it. Deftly the players brought to life the film’s full range of emotional landscapes, from the delightful surrealism of the Witches Sabbath to the agonizing torture of the witch trials. Their musicianship successfully formed a bridge between the audience and the world of the film, which, while occasionally disorienting and disturbing, proved a fascinating place to spend an evening.” – Holly Devon, Antigravity Magazine
TICKETS $30. in advance and $35. at the door
LINKS
Website: https://www.tristangianolamusic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristangianolamusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tristangianolamusic/
Häxan Soundtrack: https://tristangianola.bandcamp.com/album/the-h-xan-suite
Häxan Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0duAfyDJTY&t=2444s