New Britain herald., 1927-03-12
MUSIC FOR THE MOVIES AND HOW
 FILMS ARE "CUED" FOR ORCHESTRA

the regular night show or in the morning, the reel being sent ahead just for this purpose. In the case of Mr. Jeffs at the Capitol the di- rector sits down in the auditorium of the house. when he is about 10 "cue" news reel for instance, with a note book and stop watch. Timing the start Of the picture, he jo's down the nature of the first scene and each succeeding scene and the length oe time il is being shown.
 32,O0O Pieces in Library
 He then goes into his musical ii. trary-and Mr. Jeffs has a library of more than 32.G00 numbers which are indaxed and cross indeX"d-and selects pieces approprlate to each scene. checking off the number of bars Of each 10 he played. He knows how long it takes to play them and these bars correspond in time to the time the scene is being shown. For instance in 9 Chinese news reel scene descriptive Chinese music is nocded; in l patriotic scene W hen old Glory is unfurlcd some stirring patriotic music is needed; q military parade needs q march and so on.
 When Mr. Jeffs has "cued' his news reel he hands tho list to an assistant who lays out the music for the orchestra
 Popular Music for Comedy
 Tho "cueing' of an ordinary short comedy is an easier matter and this gives the movie orchestra about its only chance to play popular airs for in fast moving short comedy al most any snappy one-step or fox trot is sufficient, though this must keep time with the action. Tn scenic reels music descriptive of the locale of the picture of course is needed and this all is obtained in the music library.
 When the Herald writer visited Mir. Jeffs this week he was prepar- ing his "cue sheet for next week s Capitol picture Flesh and the Devil" and this was found to be a fairly representative picture inso- far as music is concerned. There will he at least 50 separate numbers. There will be three main themes ranging from the heavy dramatic music to the lighter tuneful and more pleasing music and there also will be old standard selections as well as more modern light offerings. The picture itself calls for lots Of action and the music must cores pond.
 Times Each Scene
 With each big feature the pub fisher sends q rough musical score but this is purely for the purpose of giving the orchestra leader an idea of what is coming, MT. Jcffs, armed with his trustv stop watch and pen cil, repairs 10 the front of the thea ter and there watches the showing of the picture. As each successive scene unfolds it's time, down 10 the very second, Is jottcd down togoth- CT with the nature of the action therein. At the very start. for ln- stance, there is q scene showing a trumpter blowing a call This last just Is seconds, but in arranging this part, Mr. Jeffs had to find out what kind of call was being sound cd and to select a trumpet call and check it off so that if would 'ast only the required } seconds without overlapping onto the next scene. In other scenes there are marching men and music 10 suit this is chos- en. Thus. throughout the entire picture time is iotted down and later music to fit each scene, properly timed. is selected.
 In picking the music the director has 10 use judgment and use airs that fit into the interpretation of the 1 action. And these too, have to be played with discretion and in some scenes where a fast climax Is reach ! ed the orchestra speeds up with the 1 action and at the exact instant of 1 reaching the climax the music comes 1 10 an abrupt stop for few beats ! Although the public does not realize ! it, this rest impresses forcibly upon ! the mind the scene just enacted. ! And thus it Is with every picture
 for which MT. Jcffs and his orches-