The Americas
- The most comprehensive worldwide listing of musicians and composers ever published
- Find favourite accompanists or the right artist for your screening or scoring project
- There are currently around 400 entries of active musicians – and counting
- The Hall of Fame section features some notable musicians of the past
Silent Film Musicians Directory, Part 1: Rest of the world
Waltz Dream (1938) by Louis Icart (1888–1950)
Following on from Part 1, this section covers musicians based in the Americas. It’s often said that music is half the film, and this is especially true of silents. Whether it be a restored DVD, Blu-ray, DCP or an actual print, it’s vitally important that all silent films have appropriate, good quality musical accompaniment. This is a listing of most of the best musicians performing in the world today. Although many regularly play internationally, they are categorised by their main countries of residence and listed alphabetically by their full names. For example, both the Ragtime Skedaddlers and Robert Israel are under ‘R’. If you have any suggestions for musicians or links not listed, let me know.
Musicians and promoters are welcome to tag or message me on social media for sharing events.
Contents
Argentina
Kabusacki Band: website, blog, Facebook, Twitter
Brazil
Anselmo Mancini: website, Facebook, YouTube, SoundCloud
Canada
Andrew Downing: website, YouTube
Clark Wilson: website, ATOS, Aug 2011 article
Del Bel: website, Facebook, Twitter
Fern Lindzon: website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Gabriel Thibaudeau (composer): website, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo
Hilotrons: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo
Jordan Klapman: website, Facebook, Twitter
Laura Silberberg: website, Twitter, Canadian Music Centre
Robert Bruce (composer): website, Facebook, YouTube
Silent Film Ensemble: Facebook, Twitter, BandCamp, Vimeo
VOC Silent Film Harmonic: Facebook, Jan 2013 article, SoundFM interview series, Vimeo
William O’Meara: website, YouTube
US
Alexander Rannie: website, IMDb, YouTube
Alicia Svigals: website, website #2, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, Vimeo #2
Alloy Orchestra: website, Facebook, Facebook group, Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube, Vimeo
Andrew Alden Ensemble: website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
Anna Coogan: website, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, March 2016 article, March 2016 interview, BandCamp, YouTube
- TZAR: Facebook
Greta Garbo in Torrent (1926), scored on the only official DVD (Warner region 0, 2011) by Arthur Barrow
Arthur Barrow: website, Wikipedia
Ben Model: website, blog/podcast, altscore site (archived, Oct 2018 article), Facebook, Twitter, IMDb, YouTube, Vimeo, podcast; interviews: Oct 2019 #1 | #2, Jan 2020
Berklee Silent Film Orchestra: Facebook, YouTube, YouTube #2, YouTube #3, podcasts: March and April 2012, June 2014
- Sheldon Mirowitz (composer): website, Berklee College of Music, May 2015 interview
Bernie Anderson: website, Facebook, ATOS, Wikipedia, Jan 2018 article, YouTube
Bill Rowland: website, ATOS, Aug 2014 interview, YouTube
Biograph Players: website, YouTube
Blaine Gale: ATOS, LinkedIn; articles: Jul 2004, May 2007, Feb 2009, Oct 2010, May 2019; YouTube
Bob Salisbury: ATOS, Sept 2014 article, YouTube
BQE Project: website, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo
Brian Benison (composer): website, website #2, Twitter, IMDb, Vimeo
Carl Hackert: ATOS
Christopher Caliendo: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Christian Elliott: website, ATOS, Facebook, Feb 2007 interview, YouTube
Clark Wilson: website, May 2013 interview, YouTube
Cliff Retallick: blog, Twitter, YouTube
Cloud Chamber Orchestra: Robby Aceto page, ArtistTrove, Facebook, Jan 2014 article, Jan 2014 review, YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud
Club Foot Orchestra: website, Facebook, Wikipedia, Nov 2010 interview, YouTube, Vimeo
- Beth Custer : website, Facebook, Twitter, Aug 2014 article, YouTube
Daron Hagen (composer): website
Dean Cook: ATOS
David Drazin: website, 2003 article, Feb 2014 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2
Dean Mora: website, Facebook, Silent Cinema Society, Sept 1992 | 2000s interview, YouTube, YouTube #2, Vimeo
Dennis James: ATOS, Wikipedia, 2009 Nitrateville thread, March 2015 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2
Dennis Scott: Atos, Classical Connect, Facebook, YouTube
Devil Music Ensemble: website (archived), Facebook, Free Music Archive, BandCamp, YouTube
Don Kinnier: ATOS, GSTOS, Jan 2009 article
Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton: website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Nov 2013 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2, YouTube #3, Vimeo
Donnie Rankin: website, March 2010 article
Ensamble Cine Mudo: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Eric Beheim: IMDb, Old Time Radio, March 2001 article, YouTube
Famous Players Orchestra: website, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, YouTube, YouTube #2
Flushing Remonstrance: website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo
Franklin Stöver (composer): VersusMedia, Musicalics, YouTube
Frederick Hodges: website, YouTube
Gabriela Montero: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Gary Lucas: website, Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube, Vimeo
Graham Reynolds: website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Wikipedia, IMDb, BandCamp, SoundCloud, YouTube, YouTube #2, Aug 2017, Sep 2020/#2 interviews
Hesperus: website, Facebook, YouTube
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra: website, blog, Facebook, Twitter
Invincible Czars: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud
Ivy Leaf Orchestra: website, Facebook, YouTube
Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble: website, De Stijl Music, Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BandCamp, YouTube, Sep 2009, March 2015, August 2015, April 2017/#2, Jan 2019, Oct 2022 interviews
Jay Warren aka Dennis Wolkowicz: website, YouTube
Jeff Rapsis: blog, Twitter, Jan 2014 interview, YouTube, Vimeo
Jeffrey Silverman (composer): website, IMDb, YouTube, YouTube #2
Jeff Weiler: ARTRA Artists, website, Facebook
Jelani Eddington: website, ATOS, YouTube
Jim Ford: ATOS, May | Sept | Dec 17, 22, 24, 2015 interviews
Jim Riggs: Albany University, June 2000 | Dec 2014 article, YouTube, YouTube #2
John Scott (composer): website, Wikipedia, IMDb
Jonathan Allentoff (composer): website, Facebook, March 2015 interview, YouTube, Vimeo
Jon Mirsalis: LonChaney.org biography, IMDb, July 2015 article, May 2023 interview, YouTube
Joseph Turrin (composer): website, Facebook, Wikipedia
Juan Cardona, Jr.: ATOS, YouTube
Judy Rosenberg: website, Vimeo
Keith Taylor: website, CD Baby, YouTube
Ken Double: website
Kenosha Kid: website, Facebook, Twitter, BandCamp, YouTube
Makia Matsumura: website, Twitter
Mark Herman: website, ATOS, Facebook, Twitter, July 2012 article
Maria Newman (composer): website, Facebook, Wikipedia, YouTube
Marta Waterman: website
Michael Holmes: OrganFax
Michael Mortilla: website, Twitter, Sept 2009 interview, YouTube
Miles & Karina: website, Facebook, YouTube, Oct 2019 article (archived) | Dave Keenan
Modern Robot: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo
Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra: website, Nov 2018 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2
Rodney Sauer: website, Masterclass Aug 2020
Morricone Youth: website, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube, YouTube #2, Vimeo, Vimeo #2, BandCamp, SoundCloud
Nathan Avakian: website, ATOS, TTOS, May 2010 article, YouTube, YouTube #2, SoundCloud
Not So Silent Cinema: website, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo
Paragon Ragtime Orchestra: website, Facebook, YouTube
Patrick Sheehan: ATOS
Paul Buscarello aka Fauxdephone: Facebook, Dec 2013 | Feb 2015 interviews, Feb 2016 article, BandCamp, YouTube, YouTube #2
Paul Mercer: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, YouTube #2
Peter Krasinksi: website, Jan 2014 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2
Philip Carli: website, Feb 2015 interview, YouTube, Vimeo
Plastik Factory: website, Facebook, YouTube, SoundCloud
Ragtime Skedaddlers: Facebook, BandCamp
Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra: website (archived), Facebook, Tumblr, Wikipedia, YouTube, BandCamp, SoundCloud
- R&PMPO Minnesota: Facebook, July 2015 article, Nov 2015 interview
Reel Orchestrette: website, YouTube, Vimeo
- Geoff Gersh: website
Reese Project: website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, YouTube #2
Richard Einhorn: website, Facebook, Wikipedia, March 2015 interview, YouTube
Robert Edwards: GigMasters
Robert Israel (composer): website, YouTube, YouTube #2, Vimeo
Rob Richards: ATOS, Facebook, July 2006 | June 2014 article
Ron Carter: ATOS, Earl Smith Strand Theatre, YouTube
Ron Rhode: website, ATOS, Sierra Chapter ATOS, Silent Sundays
RPM Orchestra: blog, Facebook, Wikipedia, YouTube, Vimeo, Bandcamp, March 2018 | Jan 2020 interview
San Francisco Chamber Orchestra: website, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube
Scott Foppiano: ATOS
SEMYO (Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras): website, Facebook
Shauna Pickett-Gordon: website, Aug 2014 article, YouTube
Silent Orchestra: website, Facebook, Twitter
Snark Ensemble: website, Jan 2013 interview (p.160), 2009 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2, YouTube #3
- Andrew Earle Simpson: website, Twitter, NewMusicUSA profile, June 2012 article, 2014 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2
Steven Ball: website, ATOS, July 2005 interview, April 2015 | Sept 2015 article, YouTube, YouTube #2
Steve Sterner: website, Film Forum, Jan 2005/July 2013 article, July 1999/July 1999/June 2016/July 2018/Dec 2023 interview, short
Terry Jordan: ATOS, Jan 2009 article
Timothy Brock (composer): website, Facebook, Wikipedia, YouTube, Vimeo | interviews: Nov 2009 (French and German), May 2016, June 2019
Timothy Howard: website, Twitter, YouTube
Tim Schramm: website, ATOS, TheatreOrgans
Todd Wilson: Karen McFarlane Artists Inc., Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland Institute of Music, Wikipedia, Oct 2009 interview (PDF), YouTube
Tom Helms: Aldersgate UMC, April 2015 | Sept 2015 article, YouTube
Tommy Stark: ATOS
Tom Peters: website, Udemy, BCCM, Twitter, May 2010 interview, April 2013 review, YouTube, YouTube #2, SoundCloud
Vivek Maddala (composer): website, Wikipedia, IMDb, YouTube
William Perry: website, Wikipedia, IMDb, June 2014 interview, YouTube, YouTube #2
WTAMU (West Texas A&M University) Symphony Orchestra: website, Facebook, YouTube
Yakov Gubanov: website, Facebook, Sept 2007 article, Vimeo
Hall of Fame
Though they’re no longer with us, there are some notable musicians, many of whom actually played during the silent era, who deserve an honourable mention.
“Silent movies were never really silent. There was always a piano in the pit, an organ, a little combo or even a symphony orchestra, describing in musical terms the action on the screen. That image up there, and your reaction to it, is tied together by the music. It creates a sort of a happening, and if the music were to stop you’d miss it. It’s my job to interpret, underscore and punctuate the movie without gettin’ in the way. And the reason I play an overture before the movie is that after the picture starts and you’ve forgotten I’m here, I want you all to know how hard I’ll be workin’!” – Gaylord Carter’s regular introduction
He’s not wrong: many silents musicians have told me the highest compliment they can be paid is for an audience to say to them after a screening, “I completely forgot you were there!”
Legendary Theatre Organists (1987) presented by Gaylord Carter
Germany
Aljoscha Zimmermann (1944–2009): website, Wikipedia, IMDb, StummfilmKonzerte bio, YouTube, When Silence Sings (2011) documentary, trailer, trailer #2
Peter Schirmann (1935–2021): website bio and résumé, Wikipedia, IMDb, Nosferatu score
Steven Garling (1968–2008): website, Parocktikum Wikiobituary, K-Netz forum tribute
- The Flying Seals: 2003 promo
Willy Sommerfeld (1904–2007): website, Die Welt obituary, Wikipedia, records on Amazon, YouTube
Spain
Jordi Sabatés (1948–2022): website, Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, YT tribute
UK
Arthur Dulay (1891–1971): website, BFI, IMDb, records on Amazon
Carl Davis (1936–2023): website, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, IMDb, YouTube, Vimeo | interview April 2010, Feb 2011, March 2011, Oct 2016
Napoléon (1927) scored by Carl Davis
Ena Baga (1906–2004): The Stage | Telegraph obituary, Wikipedia, IMDb, FindaGrave, records on Amazon, YouTube
Florence De Jong (1894–1990): Wikipedia, IMDb, British Pathé short (1939), BBC R4 Desert Island Discs (1973)
- Encore for the Mighty Organ (1973) and Wurlitzer in the House (1979) UK TV documentaries featuring sisters Ena and Florence
Reginald Foort (1893–1980): Wikipedia, FindaGrave, 78rpm discography, The Cinema Organ (1932) extract, books and records on Amazon, YouTube, YouTube #2, BBC R4 Desert Island Discs (1971)
US
Arthur Kleiner (1903–1980): Wikipedia, Minnesota University: AK Silent Movie Music Collection | CV | Inventory | Scores | Recordings, Music for Silent Comedies (196?) LP, Musical Moods from the Silent Films (196?) LP, Hollywood’s Musical Moods (1973) | description
Bob Mitchell (1912–2009): LA Times | Telegraph obituary, Wikipedia, IMDb, FindaGrave, Mitchell Choirboys, Dimitri Tiomkin collaborations, YouTube, Vimeo
Bob Vaughn (1911–2002): SFGAT | Independent obituary, 2002 alt.movies.silent thread
Ernö Rapée (1891–1945, composer): Wikipedia, IMDb, SFS&MA sheet music
Gaylord Carter (1905–2000): Guardian | LA Times obituary, Wikipedia, IMDb, FindaGrave, The Million Dollar Life of Gaylord Carter (1995), records on Amazon, YouTube, YouTube #2, YouTube #3, YouTube #4
Helen Anderson Crawford (1899–1943): FindaGrave, YouTube
Jesse Crawford (1895–1962): Wikipedia, IMDb, TheatreOrgans, VirtualOrgans, FindaGrave, JC Papers at AOIAL, JC Letters at ATOS, The JC Organ Courses: Elementary Course (1949), JC: Poet of the Organ; Wizard of the Mighty Wurlitzer (1974), 1986 author letter, books and records on Amazon, YouTube
John Muri (1906–2001): Facebook group, Silents are Golden | CATO obituary, 2006 Piano World forum, YouTube
J.S. Zamecnik (1872–1953, composer): Wikipedia, IMDb, Goldmark biography, Mont Alto biography, Rag Piano biography, SF bookshelf June 1998, SFS&MA sheet music, MIDI files, Sam Fox Moving Picture Music (1913)
Lee Erwin (1908–2000): Facebook, NY Times obituary, AllMusic bio, Huntsville History, LE Collection at Florida State University, Discogs, records and sheet music on Amazon, An American Organist in Paris: The Letters of Lee Orville Erwin, 1930-1931, YouTube, YouTube #2, Sept 2000 npr tribute
Louis “Lou” McMahon (?–2016): IMDb, Grapevine Video scores | #2, Captain Celluloid vs. the Film Pirates (1966): Grapevine DVD | Sinister DVD/DV, forum thread
Ray Brubacher (1940–2014): Frederick News-Post | At the Matinée obituary, Thanhouser, Dec 1990 Associated Press | Oct 2005 Washington Times | Feb 2011 Gazette article, The Last One: The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ (2010) documentary
Rosa Rio (1902–2010): Tampa Bay Times | Washington Post obituary, ATOS, Wikipedia, Feb 1971 | July 2006 interview, records, videos and sheet music on Amazon, YouTube
Stuart Oderman (1940–2017): April 2008 | Jan 2009 | Feb 2009 article, Oct 2011 interview, books on Amazon, The Lumière Brothers’ First Films (1996) documentary
Greta Garbo in Torrent (1926), scored on the only official DVD (Warner region 0, 2011) by Arthur Barrow
Silent Film Musicians Directory, Part 1: Rest of the world
