The Washington times., 1915-08-30
THE BEST
Photoplay Department IN
WASHINGTON
ViSudlized M u sic Is
the Newest Idea of
Motion Picture
Educators

Visualized music-or materialiIed
musical emotions. whichever way
one cares to call it's the brand
now idea that is to be exploited in
motion pictures.
In New York today or tomorrow
(here will be a private exhibition Of
De films that have been made Of
Cyril Maude in. Peer Gynt," with
which will also be "shown" or ex-
plotted, the first motion picture mu-
steal theme. The idea has been de-
veloped by the Paramount Cor
poration. and II the Peer Gynt" ex-
pertinent Is q success every picture
that IL released by this concern will
have its musical theme as we'll as it's
picture story-the pictures exploit
ing both simultaneously and aking.
therefore. the nrst attempt that has
literature outside of the operatic
stage.
The visualized music idea is a
rather big order for any concern
dealing in products that are to be
made to fill popular wants. but mu-
sicians who have heard the scheme
outlined are wildly enthusiastic about
1t, as they foresee an aid to musical
education that will be of greater
value than anything heretofore at
The scheme for the musical pic
lures or the pictured music is ex-
tremely. simple, though 1t will re-
Quire the services Of most skillful
composers to work out the plan to
success: 1t involves the setting of
or combination of ideas. which may
be original with the one production
or may be we'll known phrases or
themes from popular compositions.
Music. contends the author. Of the
scheme. Is form of expression that
ever. different from literature. In
that 1t deals in what might be
called tone thoughts. while litera-
ture deals in thoughts that are ex-
pressed in words.
To the man who is soaked in
sion. each musical composition Is q
mind. % the mind Of the "s savage, pss say
musicians. understands music better
than the average. civilized person.
as sense msde ussess . sStH
to completely understand music.
1t is in the chance the pictures
give to restore this ability that
musicians see the great good that
will come Of musicalized motion pic
lures: While the picture IL showing
musician wfll express that action Or
fed with it that tM average specta-
tor cannot mistake the meaning. In
this way a general idea of musically
which can be used as the basis for
popular musical education.
While the explanation Of all this
might seem very complicated and
"hishbrow." the practical demon
stration is not that at all: For in
the composer has utilized the we'll
known themes Of the Edward Gries
suite. Each character in the play
has its musical representation which
remains the same in spirit through
pates in any Of. the action Of the
play, his particular theme or varia-
tions Of 1t will accompany this ac-
ton. In some cases as many as
three Of these themes are being used
at the same time in Peer Gynt.'
as three people are involvd in a
to At the music perfectly to the bic.
lures. That will be necessary in all
cases. and in some instances It will
be also necessary to invent new
themes-in other words, make entire.
ly original compositions to At the
plays. This can be done only by
skilled musicians, Of course. as the
music must f1t minutely into every
moment Of the picture. and requires
as careful rehearsal and rearrange.
ment as the action of the play 1t.
self.
In order to make this practicable
for all classes Of picture theaters, II
has been determined to arrange the
music in a number Of ways. There
will be scores prepared for full or.
chestras. such as are to be found al
theaters like the Strand, In New
York; the Studebaker. in Chicago
and other large cities. There will
also be scores prepared for smaller
orchestras and for the plano or or.
gan alone.
1t Is the purpose to make all OF
these as simple as possible so that
they may be easily played and quite
as easily understood. The idea seems
to be very well planned. 1t only re.
mains to see how it will work out.
If the people behind 1t carry out
their plans as they have them at
present outlined. 1t would appear
that real music will get brand new
lease on life and that a popular un
derstanding Of themes that are now
held to be very complex and design
ed only for the most intellectual, will
be the result G. NJ.