UK Musical scores for silent firms unearthed in Birmingham
UK Musical scores for silent firms unearthed in Birmingham From the Guardian, UK: Musical scores for silent firms unearthed in Birmingham Hundreds of musical scores used to accompany silent films in cinemas more than 80 years ago have been discovered in the collection of Birmingham city councils music library, including a theme tune used in early Charlie Chaplin films. About 500 scores have been uncovered, many including the full parts for small orchestras of between seven and 11 players, not just a pianist. Judging by the titles, the often-fragmentary pieces were selected thematically to accompany similar plotlines. They are frequently self-explanatory: the mysterious manor house, exciting-dramatic, harrowing, creepy-creeps, wild chase, supreme peril, the poisoned cup and mounted police gallop. "We dont actually know where they came from as they were in separate collections," explained Ali Joyce, the head of the music library. "They seem to have been in our basement for...