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FREAK OF THE DISPOSSESSED: NEU MUSIC TO THE WORKS OF LON CHANEY
Regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful performers to ever grace the silver screen, Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (1883-1930) was renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted characters, and his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Utilizing techniques he developed, Chaney’s ability to transform himself for each role earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces." He is best remembered for his starring roles in such iconic silent films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925).
Chaney was an unusual movie star of the silent era. He eluded the pop mystique of the matinee idols of the day by existing at the periphery of the scene — both on and off camera. Rarely did Chaney lead a film (and when he did, it was only in the form of some expressionistic, phantasmagorical being), though his name was used to sell most of the work he appeared in. He was a character actor before the role became an identity. In his physical transferences, Chaney was able to dodge the typical blurring of self, performer, and performance that is ordinarily found in most cinematic representations. In his rigorous, albeit subtle transformation of desire and intention, he offered a new paradigm for the melancholic suffering of hope and fear.
Three queer Los Angeles-area music acts have created new, original scores to be performed live to three Chaney films. The musical aesthetic ranges from poppy experimental to stoner rock to dark electronica.
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BUCKTOOTH CADAVERS score + perform LAUGH CLOWN LAUGH
ABOUT THE FILM
In Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928), a clown named Tito Beppi (Chaney) adopts orphaned Simonetta (Loretta Young), and they begin to travel and perform in the circus together. As Simonetta grows into a beautiful young woman, Tito eventually falls in love with her. Though the girl actually has eyes for the young and noble Count Ravelli (Nils Asther), she pretends to want the kindly clown because she is unwilling to break his heart. When Tito realizes that he stands in the way of her happiness, things turn tragic. This is said to be Chaney’s favorite of all his roles.
ABOUT THE MUSIC
Bucktooth Cadavers is an ensemble assembled by Vitamin Wig C. featuring Albert Ortega and Robbie Hansen.
Robbie Hansen A.K.A Vitamin Wig C, is an experimental composer based in Sunland, Ca. In 2009, Robbie started BD&D Antiques - an ongoing episodic comedy/drama about synesthesia, featuring inanimate objects for actors “gesticulating” to otherworldly music. Robbie’s other ongoing project, Vitamin Wig C, is hard to describe in retrospect of music output, for their sound has wavered from a robust tapestry of rock-n-roll gesticulation (Man In The Side Yard) to pure noise inquiry (Submersible Star III, Sewer FX) to Pop music (Dawn Adults).
Music: https://vitaminwigc.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXaolUmUkGFG8gv3XkL7IA
Albert Ortega is an acousmatic composer based in San Gabriel Valley. His practice often utilizes portable sound devices and found objects to produce shared experiences that connect with listeners by way of accumulated psychoacoustic gestures.
Music: legglake.bandcamp.com
- Year1928
- Runtime75 minutes
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorHerbert Brenon
- MusicBucktooth Cadavers
FREAK OF THE DISPOSSESSED: NEU MUSIC TO THE WORKS OF LON CHANEY
Regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful performers to ever grace the silver screen, Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (1883-1930) was renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted characters, and his groundbreaking artistry with makeup. Utilizing techniques he developed, Chaney’s ability to transform himself for each role earned him the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Faces." He is best remembered for his starring roles in such iconic silent films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925).
Chaney was an unusual movie star of the silent era. He eluded the pop mystique of the matinee idols of the day by existing at the periphery of the scene — both on and off camera. Rarely did Chaney lead a film (and when he did, it was only in the form of some expressionistic, phantasmagorical being), though his name was used to sell most of the work he appeared in. He was a character actor before the role became an identity. In his physical transferences, Chaney was able to dodge the typical blurring of self, performer, and performance that is ordinarily found in most cinematic representations. In his rigorous, albeit subtle transformation of desire and intention, he offered a new paradigm for the melancholic suffering of hope and fear.
Three queer Los Angeles-area music acts have created new, original scores to be performed live to three Chaney films. The musical aesthetic ranges from poppy experimental to stoner rock to dark electronica.
______________________________________________________________________
BUCKTOOTH CADAVERS score + perform LAUGH CLOWN LAUGH
ABOUT THE FILM
In Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928), a clown named Tito Beppi (Chaney) adopts orphaned Simonetta (Loretta Young), and they begin to travel and perform in the circus together. As Simonetta grows into a beautiful young woman, Tito eventually falls in love with her. Though the girl actually has eyes for the young and noble Count Ravelli (Nils Asther), she pretends to want the kindly clown because she is unwilling to break his heart. When Tito realizes that he stands in the way of her happiness, things turn tragic. This is said to be Chaney’s favorite of all his roles.
ABOUT THE MUSIC
Bucktooth Cadavers is an ensemble assembled by Vitamin Wig C. featuring Albert Ortega and Robbie Hansen.
Robbie Hansen A.K.A Vitamin Wig C, is an experimental composer based in Sunland, Ca. In 2009, Robbie started BD&D Antiques - an ongoing episodic comedy/drama about synesthesia, featuring inanimate objects for actors “gesticulating” to otherworldly music. Robbie’s other ongoing project, Vitamin Wig C, is hard to describe in retrospect of music output, for their sound has wavered from a robust tapestry of rock-n-roll gesticulation (Man In The Side Yard) to pure noise inquiry (Submersible Star III, Sewer FX) to Pop music (Dawn Adults).
Music: https://vitaminwigc.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXaolUmUkGFG8gv3XkL7IA
Albert Ortega is an acousmatic composer based in San Gabriel Valley. His practice often utilizes portable sound devices and found objects to produce shared experiences that connect with listeners by way of accumulated psychoacoustic gestures.
Music: legglake.bandcamp.com
- Year1928
- Runtime75 minutes
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorHerbert Brenon
- MusicBucktooth Cadavers