The sound of the silents
Although there were no sound tracks recorded, or played, on films made during the First World War, audiences never watched films silently. In cinemas across Australia and New Zealand orchestras (which could mean anything from a single pianist to a full instrumental ensemble) provided music to accompany movies, and played as the audience entered and exited the cinema.
Violet Donaldson (nee Capstick) worked for many years as a pianist at three cinemas in Timaru. In this extract she recalls the “primitive conditions” in the theatres and also how she wrote and played tunes based on sheet music she listened to at the music shop she worked at, surprising returned servicemen who weren’t expecting to hear the latest in European music back home.
Year:Recorded in 1967
Location:Te Tihi-o-Maru, New Zealand
The sound of the silents
Although there were no sound tracks recorded, or played, on films made during the First World War, audiences never watched films silently. In cinemas across Australia and New Zealand orchestras (which could mean anything from a single pianist to a full instrumental ensemble) provided music to accompany movies, and played as the audience entered and exited the cinema.
Violet Donaldson (nee Capstick) worked for many years as a pianist at three cinemas in Timaru. In this extract she recalls the “primitive conditions” in the theatres and also how she wrote and played tunes based on sheet music she listened to at the music shop she worked at, surprising returned servicemen who weren’t expecting to hear the latest in European music back home.
Year: Recorded in 1967
Length: 03:52
Source: Radio New Zealand Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Catalogue Reference: 297475 [VIOLET DONALDSON RECALLS PLAYING PIANO IN TIMARU AND WAIMATE, 1967]
People: Violet Donaldson (nee Capstick), (Musician)
Location: Te Tihi-o-Maru, New Zealand
Image Title: The Timaru Coronation Orchestra, 1902. Violet Capstick, centre right holding sheet music. Image: South Canterbury Museum, 1446a
Image Source: http://timdc.pastperfect-online.com
Violet Donaldson (nee Capstick) had a long career as a musician in South Canterbury, from the 1890s she played piano in Langsdown’s Orchestra in Timaru and Waimate. She worked at Begg and Co’s music store, where she’d play music to customers and also had a long career as a pianist and musician in picture theatres, playing at the Theatre Royal, Hayward’s Picture Palce and Grand Theatre in Timaru.
As the extract illustrates, while films of the era had no recorded sound, the viewing experience was not silent. Musical and sound accompaniments were almost always supplied by a pianist or an “orchestra”, defined as two instruments or more. Orchestra members would also add sound effects. It was also not unusual for a lecturer, or raconteur, to accompany educational or topical films, and provide a spoken commentary; this was particularly common when travelogues, or in our case films from the front, were shown. Spectators were more raucous as well, with plenty of cheering for the heroes and booing of the villains as they appeared on the screen.