There was a bigger than normal audience on Friday night for the latest “gig” organised by the Friends of the Caird Hall Organ, but this wasn’t any normal recital.
Instead, it was a brilliant combination of movie and music, a silent film from the 1920s accompanied by live organ improvisation.
Individually, both were class acts. Harold Lloyd’s 1928 classic Speedy and Richard Hills’ ingenious use of the Caird Hall organ.
More than class acts
“Class acts” is a bit of an understatement as the union is one of unparalleled brilliance.
Invention was the name of the game with Lloyd’s crazy humour matched with Hill’s skilful interpretation.
Silent movie and cinema organ accompaniment dates back almost 100 years. Thanks to organists like Hills, the tradition is not only still with us but it’s a genre that could be with us – hopefully – for another 100 years.
There aren’t many organists who can bridge the classical organ world with that of the cinematic organ.
Music for movies
Hills does so in some style, and is surely the inspiration to other organists who want to dabble in this field of spontaneous music for movies.
Timing was vital as the differing moods of the movie were matched to perfection as Hills used every stop, every combination and every colour the organ can provide.
Even sound effects weren’t beyond him. One might think this wonderful instrument was built only for the classical repertoire, but having been built in the decade when cinema organs were rife, it has the capacity to replicate the cinematic sounds of long ago.
Great improvisation
While Lloyd employs some ultra-clever comedy routines, Hills replicates this with his imaginative improvisation, sometimes blending in well-known tunes to match the mood.
Baby-Face – when Lloyd and his partner were investing in a crib – was just one, but I’m sure I heard snatches of Greig’s Peer Gynt suite and a Strauss polka with There’s No Place Like Home appearing more than once.
The difficulty was focusing on both film and music, but if you could do both that meant, obviously, double the enjoyment.
I hope the FOCHO can replicate this excellent evening as silent movies and accompaniment such as we witnessed on Friday night is a combination to savour. If they can, make sure you don’t miss out.
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