The plucking of strings intermingle with the high-pitched sounds of wind instruments echoing on stage.
Audience members, dressed in flapper dresses and fedoras, crowd the Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center as Orchestra Novo members tune their instruments and practice their notes.
One missed cue could throw off the entire upcoming performance.
Silent film star Buster Keaton’s high falls and long jumps, whether it’s out of a house in the 1920 silent film One Week or onto the next train car in 1924’s Sherlock Jr., could only be accompanied by music that is in sync with each of his iconic stunts.
It’s safe to say that Orchestra Novo nailed it during its afternoon performance on November 16.
The storyline of One Week is simple, yet creative, and my favorite of the two films on view. A newlywed couple receives a plot of land and a house kit as a wedding gift, until a rejected admirer of the bride finds a way to sabotage Keaton’s construction.
The orchestra followed every action, from a spinning house to a floating car, quickly transforming merry melodies into playful chaos. I can’t imagine a better way to listen to the ups and downs of the film than with a live orchestra.
Sherlock Jr. is the story of a man, played by Keaton, falsely accused of theft by a romantic rival. He falls asleep at work and dreams himself into a film, becoming detective Sherlock Jr., who solves the crime.
The sneaking around and tension on screen are amplified by the live orchestra, which crescendos with every escalation and decrescendos with each relief. You can hear every skip in pacing and every note’s climb.
Orchestra Novo perfectly punctuated every moment of both films, causing the audience to laugh, gasp and clap with amusement throughout, creating an overall spirited environment.
The musicians were naturals under the masterful guidance of conductor Michael Nowak. I was completely absorbed in the film, almost forgetting that the music I was hearing—composed by Robert Israel–wasn’t an original edited soundtrack.
As someone who has never seen a Keaton film—or any silent film at all—I was pleasantly entertained. It wasn’t what I expected, but by the end, I found myself wanting more. Don’t let silence scare you away from the quality entertainment of Keaton’s films.
More importantly, if you have never experienced Orchestra Novo seamlessly accompanying a silent film, don’t miss out on your next opportunity.