Buy Tickets Online The Music House is very excited about our July silent film! It is a classic but not in the sense that our other films in the series are. Mel Brooks’ Silent Movie is a modern classic in the vein of Brooks’ other great classics like Young Frankenstein, Space Balls and Blazing Saddles. Fr. Andrew Rogers has chosen this hilarious, raucous Mel Brooks’ film.
The film is set in Hollywood, Mel Funn (Brooks), a great film director, is now recovering from a drinking problem and down on his luck. He sets out to Big Picture Studios to pitch a new script to the Chief, aided by his ever-present sidekicks Dom Bell (Dom DeLuise) and Marty Eggs (Marty Feldman). His big idea: the first silent motion picture in forty years. At first the Chief (Sid Caesar), who is in danger of losing the studio to the (literally) rabid and greedy New York conglomerate Engulf & Devour (Harold Gould and Ron Carey), rejects the idea, but Funn convinces him that if he can get Hollywood’s biggest stars to be in the film, he could save the studio.
Engulf and Devour worry that Funn will save Big Picture Studios, and they will be unable to buy it. They attempt to “stop Funn with sex”, by sending dancer Vilma Kaplan (Bernadette Peters) to seduce Funn, and then pretend to fall in love with him.
In Brooks’ typical style, the film is a slapstick rollercoaster ride featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The ensemble cast includes appearances by Anne Bancroft, Liza Minnelli, Burt Reynolds, James Caan, Marcel Marceau and Paul Newman playing themselves.
You are not going to want to miss this ‘Silent Movie’!
Fr. Andrew Rogers is no stranger to the Music House, returning annually to perform concerts and accompany silent films. A resident of Fenton, Michigan, Andrew began his musical studies on the accordion at seven, winning local and National competitions playing transcriptions of classical orchestral music. He later appeared in the orchestra of Broadway productions at Michigan State University where he holds his degree, with honors, in Psychology.
He studied theater organ techniques with the late Fr. James Miller, and then augmented his studies with Dr. Marilyn Maso
n at the University of Michigan while she was on sabbatical.
He accompanied Fr. Jim on his second tour of Australia and Norfolk Island, appearing both in joint concerts and solo engagements, also, traveling on two Historic Organ Tours led by Dr. Mason covering France, Italy, and Switzerland. He is on staff at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, and the Detroit Fox. He has also performed for local AGO chapters. A few years ago he quit his 17-year job at a travel agency to focus more on music and scoring silent films.
In addition to his classical and pop concerts, it was in 2003 when Fr. Andrew was invited to play for a public program in Michigan for the Foundation for Global Harmony – Japan. The music so transported its founder, that he asked Andrew to create two meditation CD’s for the Foundation to sell as a fundraiser to help raise funds for orphanages, hospitals, vocational schools, etc. for children in SE Asia.
Buy Tickets Online
Before the Mouse: Walt Disney’s Alice Comedies
The Music House film series present shorts that will be fun for the whole family for our August selection. Red Wings organist Dave Calendine has chosen to bring some of Walt Disney’s first films out to the vault. Before Mickey, there was Alice and her friends in one of Disney’s first series of films, the Alice Comedies.
The first of the “Alice Comedies”, Alice’s Wonderland, was made by Disney and his staff in 1923 at his failing Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City, MO. While it was never release, Disney took it with him to Los Angeles, CA, where he sent proposals for an Alice series to several studios. A deal was finally arranged with Winkler Pictures where Disney made 57 films in the series between 1923 and 1928.
The Alice Comedies are live-action animation where Alice, played by 4 young actresses over the course of the series, interacts with cartoon characters in a cartoon world. The comedies take Alice and her cartoon friends on many adventures and mysteries. Disney did almost all of the animation himself with some help from staff.
While many of these shorts have been lost, there are still some remaining in collections. Calendine is choosing some of his favorites to share. This is a rare opportunity to see these amazing Disney works with live accompaniment!
Dave Calendine is an amazingly talented organist and pianist and a great entertainer. As a young organ student, Dave visited the Akron Civic Theater, where organist Lyn Larsen performed on The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Dave was wowed by this incredible pipe organ. By l6, his skills were so impressive that he was offered a job playing the Wurlitzer at the theater. He played there for three years and eventually went on to perform on several theatre organs around Ohio, the US and overseas. Now a resident of the Detroit area, Dave is a staff organist at The Fox Theater, is the organist for The Detroit Red Wings, performs at The Redford Theater and at his church as well as concerts at the Sanfillipo Foundation in Illinois, and at the national Music Box Society International conventions.
Dave is a frequent performer for our silent film series at the Music House Museum on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, which made its way “up north”.
A Master Class in the Art of Film Scoring with Andrew Rogers
Scoring a silent film for a theater organ is an art form that requires years to master. Through our Silent Film Series we bring in some of the country’s most notable artist to accompany our films. They are often asked about the process.
The importance of music in a film was perhaps best described by Francis Ford Coppola: “Music is 50% of the movie, but an inexpensive part compared to the rest of the movie itself. Usually applied late in the game. Music is one of the tools to enhance the virtues or correct a flaw in the film – performances, photography, help create continuity where there wasn’t, try to give emotion where there wasn’t, to clarify ideas or what the audience should be focused on. So it has many tasks it needs to do.”
How to achieve this? That is the subject of this master class.
On Oct. 20th, Fr. Andrew Rogers will share some of secrets this art form. He will take they audience through the process using scenes from the classic ‘Nosferatu’ to illustrate.
Some of the areas that will be covered are:
- When do you let the tension up?
- What do you want to emphasize?
- Don’t play anything familiar?
- Associating music with a character – With music – What can I add to the film that’s not already there?
Silent films were never silent, there was always music.
90% of silent films no longer exist. Few film scores survive intact from those that remain, and musicologists are still confronted by questions when they attempt to precisely reconstruct those that remain. In many instances, the music bore little or no relationship to what was happening onscreen. Later, as films got longer, the music became more important. Early blockbusters like “Birth Of A Nation” in 1915 had full scores for full orchestras.
Music explains things you can’t put into words. Things are shot out of sequence, edited, etc. The music is a way to glue everything together. Music can move a dull scene along, increase the tension or pull at your heart strings. In short, music completes the movie.
Join us as Fr. Andrew Rogers demonstrates how this is achieved.
Buy Tickets Online
Just in time for Halloween, the Music House Silent Film Series presents the vampire classic, ‘Nosferatu’, with accompaniment by Fr. Andrew Rogers.
Famed German director F.W. Murnau set out to create the first film version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula but was denied rights by Stoker’s estate. Murnau continued production, simply changing the name of the main character to Nosferatu, and created what many still consider the best film version of this classic book. A lawsuit by Stoker’s estate prevented wide distribution of the film, but the mysterious and haunting quality of this version has brought a cult classic status and is considered by film buffs everywhere as a ‘must see’.
Nosferatu is played by character actor Max Schreck. A method actor, Schreck was never seen without make-up by the cast and crew which added an air of mystery to the set. The filming of ‘Nosferatu’ became something of a myth, perpetuated by Murnau implying that Schreck was actually a vampire playing an actor playing a vampire.
To add to the fun, we encourage the audience to come in costume!
Fr. Andrew Rogers is a frequent and popular accompanist to our Silent Film Series. His amazing skills on the Wurltizer organ and in scoring films make the film experience truly great.
A resident of Fenton, Michigan, Andrew began his musical studies on the accordion at seven, winning local and National competitions playing transcriptions of classical orchestral music. He later appeared in the orchestra of Broadway productions at Michigan State University where he holds his degree, with honors, in Psychology.
He studied theater organ techniques with the late Fr. James Miller, and then augmented his studies with Dr. Marilyn Mason at the University of Michigan while she was on sabbatical.
He accompanied Fr. Jim on his second tour of Australia and Norfolk Island, appearing both in joint concerts and solo engagements, also, traveling on two Historic Organ Tours led by Dr. Mason covering France, Italy, and Switzerland.
He is on staff at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, and the Detroit Fox. He has also performed for local AGO chapters. A few years ago he quit his 17-year job at a travel agency to focus more on music and scoring silent films.
In addition to his classical and pop concerts, it was in 2003 when Fr. Andrew was invited to play for a public program in Michigan for the Foundation for Global Harmony – Japan. The music so transported its founder, that he asked Andrew to create two meditation CD’s for the Foundation to sell as a fundraiser to help raise funds for orphanages, hospitals, vocational schools, etc. for children in SE Asia.
Buy Tickets Online Apparently our ticketing outlet is having, MyNorth, is have technical difficulties. Please call (231)938-9300 to order tickets!
Just in time for Halloween, the Music House Silent Film Series presents the vampire classic, ‘Nosferatu’, with accompaniment by Fr. Andrew Rogers.
Famed German director F.W. Murnau set out to create the first film version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula but was denied rights by Stoker’s estate. Murnau continued production, simply changing the name of the main character to Nosferatu, and created what many still consider the best film version of this classic book. A lawsuit by Stoker’s estate prevented wide distribution of the film, but the mysterious and haunting quality of this version has brought a cult classic status and is considered by film buffs everywhere as a ‘must see’.
Nosferatu is played by character actor Max Schreck. A method actor, Schreck was never seen without make-up by the cast and crew which added an air of mystery to the set. The filming of ‘Nosferatu’ became something of a myth, perpetuated by Murnau implying that Schreck was actually a vampire playing an actor playing a vampire.
To add to the fun, we encourage the audience to come in costume!
Fr. Andrew Rogers is a frequent and popular accompanist to our Silent Film Series. His amazing skills on the Wurltizer organ and in scoring films make the film experience truly great.
A resident of Fenton, Michigan, Andrew began his musical studies on the accordion at seven, winning local and National competitions playing transcriptions of classical orchestral music. He later appeared in the orchestra of Broadway productions at Michigan State University where he holds his degree, with honors, in Psychology.
He studied theater organ techniques with the late Fr. James Miller, and then augmented his studies with Dr. Marilyn Mason at the University of Michigan while she was on sabbatical.
He accompanied Fr. Jim on his second tour of Australia and Norfolk Island, appearing both in joint concerts and solo engagements, also, traveling on two Historic Organ Tours led by Dr. Mason covering France, Italy, and Switzerland.
He is on staff at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, and the Detroit Fox. He has also performed for local AGO chapters. A few years ago he quit his 17-year job at a travel agency to focus more on music and scoring silent films.
In addition to his classical and pop concerts, it was in 2003 when Fr. Andrew was invited to play for a public program in Michigan for the Foundation for Global Harmony – Japan. The music so transported its founder, that he asked Andrew to create two meditation CD’s for the Foundation to sell as a fundraiser to help raise funds for orphanages, hospitals, vocational schools, etc. for children in SE Asia.
Buy Tickets Online
For our November Silent Film, The Music House presents Buster Keaton’s Spite Marriage with accompaniment by Dave Calendine on the “Mighty” Wurlitzer Theater Organ. This 1929 classic was Buster Keaton’s final silent film, and, while not as well known as some of his other films, it contains some of the funniest scenes he ever committed to film.
In this film Keaton plays Elmer, a humble worker in a dry cleaning establishment, idolizes stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian). She, in turn, is carrying a torch for fellow actor Lionel Benmore (Edward Earle). When he spurns her for the younger Ethyl Norcrosse (Leila Hyams), she impulsively asks Elmer to marry her, only to regret it almost immediately. Her handlers extricate her from the marriage, and when Elmer finds himself first in the hands of criminals and then at sea, he is more than happy for the opportunity to forget her. But a series of coincidences throw Elmer and Trilby back together again, and she will have cause to re-evaluate her opinion of him.
Dave Calendine is an amazingly talented organist and pianist and a great entertainer. As a young organ student, Dave visited the Akron Civic Theater, where organist Lyn Larsen performed on The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Dave was wowed by this incredible pipe organ. By l6, his skills were so impressive that he was offered a job playing the Wurlitzer at the theater. He played there for three years and eventually went on to perform on several theatre organs around Ohio, the US and overseas. Now a resident of the Detroit area, Dave is a staff organist at The Fox Theater, has served as the live organist for The Detroit Red Wings for numerous seasons, performs at The Redford Theater and at his church as well as concerts at the Sanfillipo Foundation in Illinois, and at the national Music Box Society International conventions. Dave is a frequent performer for our silent film series at the Music House Museum on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, which made its way “up north”.
Buy Tickets Online For our November Silent Film, The Music House presents Buster Keaton’s Spite Marriage with accompaniment by Dave Calendine on the “Mighty” Wurlitzer Theater Organ. This 1929 classic was Buster Keaton’s final silent film, and, while not as well known as some of his other films, it contains some of the funniest scenes he ever committed to film.
In this film Keaton plays Elmer, a humble worker in a dry cleaning establishment, idolizes stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian). She, in turn, is carrying a torch for fellow actor Lionel Benmore (Edward Earle). When he spurns her for the younger Ethyl Norcrosse (Leila Hyams), she impulsively asks Elmer to marry her, only to regret it almost immediately. Her handlers extricate her from the marriage, and when Elmer finds himself first in the hands of criminals and then at sea, he is more than happy for the opportunity to forget her. But a series of coincidences throw Elmer and Trilby back together again, and she will have cause to re-evaluate her opinion of him.
Dave Calendine is an amazingly talented organist and pianist and a great entertainer. As a young organ student, Dave visited the Akron Civic Theater, where organist Lyn Larsen performed on The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Dave was wowed by this incredible pipe organ. By l6, his skills were so impressive that he was offered a job playing the Wurlitzer at the theater. He played there for three years and eventually went on to perform on several theatre organs around Ohio, the US and overseas. Now a resident of the Detroit area, Dave is a staff organist at The Fox Theater, has served as the live organist for The Detroit Red Wings for numerous seasons, performs at The Redford Theater and at his church as well as concerts at the Sanfillipo Foundation in Illinois, and at the national Music Box Society International conventions. Dave is a frequent performer for our silent film series at the Music House Museum on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, which made its way “up north”.
Interlochen Arts Academy pianist, Steve Larson, Accompanies
‘The Son of the Sheik’ starring Rudolph Valentino
This was Valentino’s final film, considered by many critics his best. He plays the son of the Sheik who falls in love with the wrong woman and finds himself held for ransom by a den of Moorish thieves.
In this dramatic adventure set in the south of Algiers, in a camp of outcasts, the Frenchman André (George Fawcett) leads a troupe of mountebanks and thieves. His daughter Yasmin (Vilma Banky) is the dancer of the group and is promised to the cutthroat Moor Ghobah (Montague Love). However, Yasmin meets Ahmed (Rudolph Valentino), who is the Sheik’s son but she does not know, and they fall in love for each other. W
hen the young couple secretly dates in the ruins of Touggourt, where Yasmin dances, the criminals attack Ahmed, beat up and capture him, expecting to ask for a ransom. Ghobah poisons Ahmed, telling that Yasmin is a bait to lure victims for them. Ahmed escapes, and he abducts Yasmin and despises her.
Will Ahmed believe that Yasmin set him up for capture? Even if true love finds a way through webs of deceit, what will the vigorous and imposing sheik say about his son consorting with a dancing girl?
An advanced screening of The Son of the Sheik was shown at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles on July 9, 1926. Valentino then embarked on a nationwide tour to promote the film. On August 15, he collapsed in his New York City hotel room and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors discovered he had a perforated ulcer which required emergency surgery. After the surgery, Valentino developed peritonitis and died on August 23, 1926.
The Son of the Sheik was released nationwide on September 5, 1926, nearly two weeks after Valentino’s death. The film was an instant hit with audiences and grossed $1,000,000 within the first year of its release. Eventually it more than doubled that.
At IAA, Steve Larson has played in recitals and chamber music festivals throughout the Midwest including the Absolutely Amadeus festival, the Manitou Music Festival and Chamber Music North. As a dance accompanist, Mr. Larson served as company pianist for the Milwaukee Ballet and has played for Minnesota Dance Theater, Alaska Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Hispanico and others. He has made dance accompaniment CDs for Aquarian Sound and Brio Recordings. His compositions have been performed by violinist Hal Grossman, the Concord Chamber Orchestra, the Interlochen Arts Academy Choir and the Backyard Recorder Consort. His improvisational skills are frequently put to use accompanying silent movies. Mr. Larson is currently organist at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City, Michigan.
Ben Hur Starring Ramon Novarro with Accompaniment by Andrew Rogers
Buy Tickets Online We are so excited to bring this classic film to the Music House with accompaniment by Andrew Rogers on the Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ! This film is one of the most storied films ever made. Because of this fascinating tale, Rogers will beginning the evening at 6:30 pm by showing a portion of a documentary on the making of the film with a brief discussion. The movie will begin at 7:00 pm.
Years in the making, Ben Hur was the most expensive film of the silent film era, costing $3,900,000 and grossing $9,000,000. The chariot and sea battle scenes are considered among the most ambitious filming and editing scenes ever attempted. They used dozens of cameras to capture the action.
Its estimated 125,000 extras were a who’s who list of future Hollywood royalty. Among well-known and soon-to-be-well-known names “working” in the film were John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, Marion Davies, Myrna Loy, John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks, Clark Gable, Harold Lloyd, Carole Lombard, Janet Gaynor, Fay Wray, Mary Pickford, Colleen Moore, Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Samuel Goldwyn and Rupert Julian.
Ben-Hur (Ramon Novarro) is a wealthy Jew and boyhood friend of the powerful Roman Tribune, Messala. When an accident leads to Ben-Hur’s arrest, Messala, who has become corrupt and arrogant, makes sure Ben-Hur and his family are jailed and separated.
Ben-Hur is sentenced to slave labor in a Roman war galley. Along the way, he unknowingly encounters Jesus, the carpenter’s son who offers him water. Once aboard ship, his attitude of defiance and strength impresses a Roman admiral, Quintus Arrius, who allows him to remain unchained. This actually works in the Admiral’s favor because when his ship is attacked and sunk by pirates, Ben-Hur saves him from drowning.
Arrius then treats Ben-Hur as a son, and over the years the young man grows strong and becomes a victorious chariot racer. This eventually leads to a climactic showdown with Messala in a chariot race.
You don’t want to miss this fascinating evening of film history, action and music!
Ben Hur Trailer
Filming of the Chariot Race
Buy Tickets Online Safety Last! (1923) is a classic romantic comedy starring Harold Lloyd. The film was highly successful and critically hailed, and cemented Lloyd’s status as a major figure in early motion pictures. It includes one of the most iconic and famous images of the silent film era as Lloyd dangles, clutching the hands of a large clock, outside a skyscraper. It is considered on to the great film comedies of all time. This great film will be accompanied by world renowned organist, Steven Ball, Organist and Director of Outreach for the world’s largest pipe organ located at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.
In Safety Last!, Lloyd plays a small town boy trying to make his fortune in the big city so that he can send for his girl back home. In famous Lloyd fashion, this leads to crazy situations as a department store clerk, hilarious physical comedy and the now famous stunts.
Ball occupies a rather unique place in the musical world of the organ. In addition to being a Fulbright Scholar, he is part of a small number of artists proficient in the genre of the theater organ ever to have achieved a doctoral degree in music, and the first to have ever done so with a degree in organ performance. Widely recognized for his scholarship both with classical improvisation as well as the art of silent film composition and accompaniment, he has traveled and performed extensively in both the United States and abroad including concerts in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Ireland, England and Switzerland.
Buy Tickets Online Safety Last! (1923) is a classic romantic comedy starring Harold Lloyd. The film was highly successful and critically hailed, and cemented Lloyd’s status as a major figure in early motion pictures. It includes one of the most iconic and famous images of the silent film era as Lloyd dangles, clutching the hands of a large clock, outside a skyscraper. It is considered on to the great film comedies of all time. This great film will be accompanied by world renowned organist, Steven Ball, Organist and Director of Outreach for the world’s largest pipe organ located at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.
In Safety Last!, Lloyd plays a small town boy trying to make his fortune in the big city so that he can send for his girl back home. In famous Lloyd fashion, this leads to crazy situations as a department store clerk, hilarious physical comedy and the now famous stunts.
Ball occupies a rather unique place in the musical world of the organ. In addition to being a Fulbright Scholar, he is part of a small number of artists proficient in the genre of the theater organ ever to have achieved a doctoral degree in music, and the first to have ever done so with a degree in organ performance. Widely recognized for his scholarship both with classical improvisation as well as the art of silent film composition and accompaniment, he has traveled and performed extensively in both the United States and abroad including concerts in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Ireland, England and Switzerland.
Music House’s Silent Film Series presents Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) starring Buster Keaton with accompaniment by Dale and Gail Zieger.
Fulfilling the wish of his mother, William Canfield Jr. (Keaton) goes to work on his father’s steamboat in a small town on the Mississippi. The elder Canfield, is a disappointed when his son, who he has not seen since he was a baby, is not big and strapping like his father and is citified. He is further angered to find out that Bill Jr. has fallen in love with the daughter of his arch rival whose brand new steamboat is putting Bill Sr.’s old boats out of business. In true Keaton fashion, this film is filled with hilarious physical comedy and also a dramatic ending when the lives Bill Jr., his father, his love, Kitty, and her father are all threatened by a horrible storm when the weather turns bad. Will they all survive?
Dale Zieger is an internationally acclaimed organist having traveled for the world giving concerts in 12 countries and five continents. He began performing in public at the age of eight years. He is now in his 54th year of musical performance and currently plays for the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey Team.
Gail is a native of West Michigan and has been a professional musician for over 45 years. She is self-taught and is at home at the piano, organ, keyboard, as well as five other instruments. She has also used her talents as a church music director, teacher, and entertainer.
There will be two showings at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Seating is limited so reservations are recommended!
Buy Tickets Online Music House’s Silent Film Series presents Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) starring Buster Keaton with accompaniment by Dale and Gail Zieger.
Fulfilling the wish of his mother, William Canfield Jr. (Keaton) goes to work on his father’s steamboat in a small town on the Mississippi. The elder Canfield, is a disappointed when his son, who he has not seen since he was a baby, is not big and strapping like his father and is citified. He is further angered to find out that Bill Jr. has fallen in love with the daughter of his arch rival whose brand new steamboat is putting Bill Sr.’s old boats out of business. In true Keaton fashion, this film is filled with hilarious physical comedy and also a dramatic ending when the lives Bill Jr., his father, his love, Kitty, and her father are all threatened by a horrible storm when the weather turns bad. Will they all survive?
Dale Zieger is an internationally acclaimed organist having traveled for the world giving concerts in 12 countries and five continents. He began performing in public at the age of eight years. He is now in his 54th year of musical performance and currently plays for the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey Team.
Gail is a native of West Michigan and has been a professional musician for over 45 years. She is self-taught and is at home at the piano, organ, keyboard, as well as five other instruments. She has also used her talents as a church music director, teacher, and entertainer.
There will be two showings at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Seating is limited so reservations are recommended!
Thank You for a Great 2017 Event Season!
2018 Season Schedule Coming Soon!!
We will have more great movies, concerts and fun for the entire family.
Buster Keaton stars in Sherlock Jr. and One Week With Accompaniment by IAA’s Steve Larson
Buy Tickets Online The Music House’s first Silent film of our series is a Buster Keaton double feature of laughter! These films will be accompanied by Interlochen Arts Academy Staff Pianist, Steve Larson.
Sherlock Jr.
The evening of fun begins with the hilarious, Sherlock Jr. A young theater projectionist and aspiring detective (Keaton) falls in love with a beautiful girl. Her father’s pocket watch is stolen and he vows to solve the crime.
But when planted evidence is found that makes him appear to be the thief he is banished from her house. He falls asleep in the projection booth and dreams his is a great detective and solves the crime despite hilarious attempts by the villain to thwart his efforts. Will he be able to solve the crime and win back the girl in real life?
One Week
This was Keaton’s first film on his own, without Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. In this 1920 comedy short, a newly wedded couple (Keaton and Sybil Seely) are given a prefabricated ‘build a house’ kit, that can be built in “one week”, as a wedding gift. They are unaware that a rival has sabotaged the kit’s component numbering. Hilarity ensues as Keaton’s character builds this house according to the false numbering and then they forced to move it when they discovered they built it on the wrong lot!!
At IAA, Steve Larson has played in recitals and chamber music festivals throughout the Midwest including the Absolutely Amadeus festival, the Manitou Music Festival and Chamber Music North. As a dance accompanist, Mr. Larson served as company pianist for the Milwaukee Ballet and has played for Minnesota Dance Theater, Alaska Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Hispanico and others. He has made dance accompaniment CDs for Aquarian Sound and Brio Recordings. His compositions have been performed by violinist Hal Grossman, the Concord Chamber Orchestra, the Interlochen Arts Academy Choir and the Backyard Recorder Consort. His improvisational skills are frequently put to use accompanying silent movies. Mr. Larson is currently organist at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City, Michigan.
The Music House Museum’s Silent Film Series is a very popular event. It allows guests to experience silent films as they were originally screened, with live accompaniment. We bring world class musicians to the area who provide the sound track for these classic films. It is a perfect event for the entire family.
Buster Keaton stars in Sherlock Jr. and One Week With Accompaniment by IAA’s Steve Larson
Buy Tickets OnlineThe Music House’s first Silent film of our series is a Buster Keaton double feature of laughter! These films will be accompanied by Interlochen Arts Academy Staff Pianist, Steve Larson.
Sherlock Jr.
The evening of fun begins with the hilarious, Sherlock Jr. A young theater projectionist and aspiring detective (Keaton) falls in love with a beautiful girl. Her father’s pocket watch is stolen and he vows to solve the crime.
But when planted evidence is found that makes him appear to be the thief he is banished from her house. He falls asleep in the projection booth and dreams his is a great detective and solves the crime despite hilarious attempts by the villain to thwart his efforts. Will he be able to solve the crime and win back the girl in real life?
One Week
This was Keaton’s first film on his own, without Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. In this 1920 comedy short, a newly wedded couple (Keaton and Sybil Seely) are given a prefabricated ‘build a house’ kit, that can be built in “one week”, as a wedding gift. They are unaware that a rival has sabotaged the kit’s component numbering. Hilarity ensues as Keaton’s character builds this house according to the false numbering and then they forced to move it when they discovered they built it on the wrong lot!!
At IAA, Steve Larson has played in recitals and chamber music festivals throughout the Midwest including the Absolutely Amadeus festival, the Manitou Music Festival and Chamber Music North. As a dance accompanist, Mr. Larson served as company pianist for the Milwaukee Ballet and has played for Minnesota Dance Theater, Alaska Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Hispanico and others. He has made dance accompaniment CDs for Aquarian Sound and Brio Recordings. His compositions have been performed by violinist Hal Grossman, the Concord Chamber Orchestra, the Interlochen Arts Academy Choir and the Backyard Recorder Consort. His improvisational skills are frequently put to use accompanying silent movies. Mr. Larson is currently organist at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City, Michigan.
The Music House Museum’s Silent Film Series is a very popular event. It allows guests to experience silent films as they were originally screened, with live accompaniment. We bring world class musicians to the area who provide the sound track for these classic films. It is a perfect event for the entire family.
Buy Tickets Online
Due to an early SELLOUT of our originally scheduled presentation, the artist have agreed to add a second, earlier performance!! It is not to late to experience this amazing show at 5:30 pm.
The Music House is excited to present a special addition to our Silent Film Series. Interlochen Arts Academy guest instructors, Hajnal Pivnick and Dorian Wallace of Tenth Intervention, will be bringing their brilliant talent, accompanying a special episode of BBC’s series “Planet Earth”. This will combine beautiful images of nature with their exceptional and creative musical talent. Hajnal’s talent as a violinist and Dorian’s talent as a pianist combine to create a modern, unique and beautiful experience of film accompaniment that you will not want to miss!
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement, the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living” – David Attenborough
The Music House Museum is partnering with musical duo Tenth Intervention to bring you the sweeping vistas and extravagant mating calls of Planet Earth with a live score!
Tenth Intervention (Dorian Wallace, piano, Hajnal Pivnick, violin) presents contemporary music in New York City. Through collaborations with composers, musicians, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers, they produce programs that expand the reach of music to be diverse, pioneering, and socially conscious. Visit www.tenthintervention.com for more info!
Please join us on July 27th at 5:30 pm for the unique evening of beautiful music and film.
Artist Bios:
Hajnal Pivnick, Co-founder/Artistic DirectorHungarian-American violinist Hajnal Kármán Pivnick was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She advocates the performance and promotion of music written in the 20th and 21st century, and works extensively as an educator and arts administrator. She is co-founder of Tenth Intervention, a collective of musicians and concert series that presents new music in New York City.
Hajnal performs regularly with IRIS Orchestra, ensemble mise-en, and Quartet Metadata, and has played with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, and the Hungarian New Music Chamber Ensemble (UMZE). In New York, she performs in venues ranging in scope from the Park Avenue Armory to Joe’s Pub to Carnegie Hall. As a soloist, she has performed with the Association for the Promotion of New Music and the Tribeca New Music Festival.
Hajnal is a member of the violin faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp, and maintains a violin studio at Greenwich House Music School, Opus 118 Harlem School of Music, and Lucy Moses School. She is also a chamber music coach with the Face the Music/Kronos Quartet program. She holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary.
Dorian Wallace, Co-founder/Artistic Director
Dorian Wallace is a composer, improviser, pianist, teacher, and activist. His work explores aspects of conscious and unconscious experiences, politics and theatrics.
His music has been performed worldwide at venues such as The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR, Pompidou Centre, Palais Jacques Coeur, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, National Sawdust, Universidad de Costa Rica, and GK Arts Center.
He has composed and collaborated with artists including 10 Hairy Legs, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Robert Ashley, Hernando Bensuelo, Seneca Black, Tiger Chengliang Cai, The Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio, Composers Concordance, Cylixe, Experiments In Opera, John King, Dave Liebman, Frank London, LottDance, Matt Marks, Brianna Matzke, Charlotte Mundy, New Vintage Baroque, Periapsis Music and Dance, Paul Pinto, Hajnal Pivnick, RIOULT Dance, John Sanborn, Son Lux, Aleksandra Vrebalov, and Pamela Z.
Dorian is a founder and artistic director of the New York City based new music collective Tenth Intervention, director of the improvisational septendectet The Free Sound Ahn-somble, pianist for the surrealist nightclub act Trystero, and a founding member of free improvisational quintet AmmoCake.
Buy Tickets Online For our November Silent Film Series we are offering a triple feature of heroic women. Organist Dave Calendine has chosen three shorts where the woman leads save the day during these adventures. This a bit surprising given that the films were made between 1912 and 1915, however this was at the height of the suffragette movement. They were all incredibly popular. Two of the films, starring Helen Gibson, were part of the “Hazards of Helen” series. This incredibly popular series ran from late 1914 to early 1917. it is one of the longest non-feature-length motion picture series ever filmed, and is believed to be the longest of the film serial format.
The third short features actress Anne Q. Nilsson, “Anne Q”, who became an immediate sensation after her first film role in 1911. In 1914 she was chosen the most beautiful actress “in the world” and Photoplay magazine named her “the ideal American girl” in 1919. This third film does not focus on her beauty but on strength and intelligence.
The “Hazards of Helen” films are “The Wrong Order Train” and “The Leap for the Water Tower”. In the first Helen finds herself on the rear observation deck of a runaway express train with the door to the inside closed, with the air-brake of the engine damaged, the engine itself full of steam and inaccessible, and the train speeding ahead on the wrong track. In the second film “Leap From the Tower”, a disgruntled fired worker decides to get even by tampering with the brakes of a large train. Helen receives the news at an intermediate station and has to try and fix the problem before disaster strikes. In keeping with the ‘train’ theme, the third film features Anne Q. as the telegraph operator at the local train station in “The Grit of the Girl Telegrapher”. She discovers that a notorious car thief is in town and decides to bring him to justice.
Dave Calendine is a Music House Museum favorite! Now a resident of the Detroit area, Calendine has served as an organist for The Detroit Red Wings, is a staff organist at The Fox Theater, performs at The Redford Theater and at his church as well as concerts at the Sanfillipo Foundation in Illinois, and at the national Music Box Society International conventions. He also serves as the national president of the American Theatre Organist Society (ATOS).
Buy Tickets Online For our November Silent Film Series we are offering a triple feature of heroic women. Organist Dave Calendine has chosen three shorts where the woman leads save the day during these adventures. This a bit surprising given that the films were made between 1912 and 1915, however this was at the height of the suffragette movement. They were all incredibly popular. Two of the films, starring Helen Gibson, were part of the “Hazards of Helen” series. This incredibly popular series ran from late 1914 to early 1917. it is one of the longest non-feature-length motion picture series ever filmed, and is believed to be the longest of the film serial format.
The third short features actress Anne Q. Nilsson, “Anne Q”, who became an immediate sensation after her first film role in 1911. In 1914 she was chosen the most beautiful actress “in the world” and Photoplay magazine named her “the ideal American girl” in 1919. This third film does not focus on her beauty but on strength and intelligence.
The “Hazards of Helen” films are “The Wrong Order Train” and “The Leap for the Water Tower”. In the first Helen finds herself on the rear observation deck of a runaway express train with the door to the inside closed, with the air-brake of the engine damaged, the engine itself full of steam and inaccessible, and the train speeding ahead on the wrong track. In the second film “Leap From the Tower”, a disgruntled fired worker decides to get even by tampering with the brakes of a large train. Helen receives the news at an intermediate station and has to try and fix the problem before disaster strikes. In keeping with the ‘train’ theme, the third film features Anne Q. as the telegraph operator at the local train station in “The Grit of the Girl Telegrapher”. She discovers that a notorious car thief is in town and decides to bring him to justice.
Dave Calendine is a Music House Museum favorite! Now a resident of the Detroit area, Calendine has served as an organist for The Detroit Red Wings, is a staff organist at The Fox Theater, performs at The Redford Theater and at his church as well as concerts at the Sanfillipo Foundation in Illinois, and at the national Music Box Society International conventions. He also serves as the national president of the American Theatre Organist Society (ATOS).
Music House Christmas Family Day! The Music House would like to invite the public to join us on Sunday, December 17th, for our Holiday Celebration from noon to 4 PM. Come and enjoy the sounds of the season and all of the beautiful holiday decorations! We are offering special tours and screenings of a short silent film complete with hot cider, hot chocolate and holiday treats! It is a perfect family outing for the season.
There will be special discounted admissions with adults $5, students $3 and children under 6 are free and a special family admission of $15. Here is your chance to see what the Music House is all about. You know that you have been wanting to stop by! Tickets are available at the door.
