The dead and the living unite in Royce Hall tomorrow at 2 p.m.
as UCLA Live presents Buster Keaton’s “The
Navigator” accompanied by organist Chris Elliott.
“The Navigator” features the late Keaton, a physical
comedian contemporary of Charlie Chaplin, in a story of two
estranged lovers who find themselves trapped on an ocean liner.
Directed by and starring Keaton, “The Navigator” was
his biggest financial success and to many, his funniest film.
“For many years, silent films weren’t taken
seriously.” said Elliott. “Now, people have
rediscovered the genius of some of the silent film
comedians.”
The Royce Hall grand organ allows for “The
Navigator” to be accompanied by Elliott. He not only brings
22 years of silent film accompaniment to Royce Hall on Saturday,
but he also has experience with the grand organ itself. Two years
ago Elliot performed with the screening of the silent film
“The Mark of Zorro.”
“It is more of a classical (than theatrical) organ,”
Elliott said. “It is a very very good instrument. It can
definitely do the sounds we’ll be needing for the
film.”
“The musician wants to describe in musical terms what the
action on the screen is,” Elliott added.
Silent film scores vary. Some had scores while others were
released with thematic cue-sheets. The cue-sheet supplies the
musician with a timeline of events occurring in the film and some
suggested musical pieces. With these loose boundaries, the musician
has room for improvisation. Elliott said this is all traditional in
the world of silent films.
“Silent films were never really silent,” Elliott
said. “All of the theaters in the 1920s had pianos or organs
to accompany the film.”
The organist must keep track of many things, including following
the movie, anticipating upcoming musical changes, and keeping all
the parts of the organ in sync.
However, the true mark of a successful accompanist is if the
audience can’t recognize the complexity.
“If I’m doing my job right, you will get caught up
in the film,” Elliott said. “You will forget the music
is even there.”
Through his performances in silent film festivals, Elliott sees
a resurgence of appreciation for silent films. One ticket gives
entrance into a world of both slapstick silliness and organ
overtures.
“It’s a spontaneous event,” Elliott said.
“It’s live music, a live happening that will only
happen one time and never is duplicated the same way.”
For more info call UCLA’s Central Ticket Office at
310-825-210 or log on to www.uclalive.com.