(program running time 90 min.)
This program will feature some of the essential films in the field of “visual music.” In the spirit of Matisse’s jazz paintings, these are films that play with the effects of synesthesia and offer kinetic interpretations of melody, harmony, and pitch. Selections include work by such celebrated filmmakers as Harry Smith, Norman McLaren, Mary Ellen Bute, Stan Brakhage, John Whitney, and Oskar Fischinger.
The Program:
NORMAN MCLAREN
PEN POINT PERCUSSION (1949, 6 mins)
SYNCHROMY (1971, 7 mins)
JAMES & JOHN WHITNEY
YANTRA (James Whitney, 1957, 7 mins)
PERMUTATIONS (John Whitney, 1966, 8 mins)
LAPIS (James Whitney, 1966, 9 mins)
STAN BRAKHAGE
THE DANTE QUARTET (1987, 6 mins)
RAGE NET (1988, 1 min)
NIGHTMUSIC (1986, 32 secs)
GLAZE OF CATHEXIS (1990, 3 mins)
HARRY SMITH
MIRROR ANIMATIONS (1957, 3.5 mins)
OSKAR FISCHINGER
RADIO DYNAMICS (1942, 3 mins)
ALLEGRETTO (1936, 4 mins)
AN OPTICAL POEM (1937, 7 mins)
MARY ELLEN BUTE
SYNCHROMY no. 4 (Escape) (1937, 4 mins)
MOOD CONTRASTS (1953, 7 mins)
TARANTELLA (1940, 4 mins)
NEW SENSATIONS IN SOUND (1959, 3 mins)
Prints courtesy of: The Estate of John and James Whitney, Anthology Film Archives, Visual Studies Workshop, Canyon Cinema, Academy Film Archive, George Eastman House, ALLEGRETTO & RADIO DYNAMICS preserved by Center for Visual Music.
