Posted August 16, 2019
JBFC Mixtapes, Vol 18: Caramoor at the Burns - Movies Musicians Love
by Kathy Schuman, VP, Artistic Programming & Executive Producer at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
JBFC Mixtapes is an initiative from the Burns to highlight the music—from soundtracks to scores—that makes the cinematic experience so special. Vol. 18 of the JBFC Mixtapes comes to us from Kathy Schuman, VP Artistic Programming & Executive Producer at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, who put together a playlist celebrating our upcoming series collaboration Caramoor at the Burns: Movies Musicians Love. The fall 2019 iteration of Caramoor at the Burns: Movies Musicians Love kicks off September 10 with Black Orpheus, and continues with monthly screenings through December. Check out Kathy’s insights on her song picks below, stream or save the full playlist on Spotify, then snag your tickets for this upcoming series!
JBFC Mixtapes, Vol. 18: Caramoor at the Burns – Movies Musicians Love
“I’m so glad Black Orpheus (screening Sept. 10 at 2:00 & 7:00) was selected for this series, as I’m a huge Brazilian music fan. In the film, the Orpheus myth is re-set in a modern slum in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. The soundtrack opens with Antônio Carlos Jobim’s “A Felicidade” and also includes Luiz Bonfá’s “Manhã de Carnaval” and “Samba de Orfeu” which have now become classics of bossa nova.”
- “A Felicidade” — João Gilberto
- “Manha De Carnaval” — Stan Getz
- “Samba de Orfeu” — Luiz Bonfa
- “Samba De Verão” — Marcos Valle
The Miró Quartet was one of Caramoor’s first quartets in residence, back in 2000/01. They’ve returned often as their career developed, and will play in the Music Room in March 2020. Here’s a track from one of their recent recordings, featuring the wonderful clarinetist David Shifrin.
- “Spring Forward: V. A Perfect Picnic” by Peter Schickele; the Miró Quartet
The Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? (screening Oct. 1 at 2:00 & 7:00) takes place in 1930’s rural Mississippi. Much of the music used in the film is period folk music, and a number of wonderful country and folk musicians were featured on the soundtrack, including Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris.
- “Down To The River To Pray” — Alison Krauss
- “Angel Band” — The Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mountain Boys
- “I’ll Fly Away” — Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
- “Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby” — Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & Alison Kraus
It’s easy to see why Sarah Jarosz was influenced by this film. Caramoor has been fortunate enough to present Sarah on her own, as well as with her ‘super-group’ I’m With Her (with Sara Watkins and Aoife O’Donovan).
- “Be My Husband” — I’m With Her
- “House Of Mercy” — Sarah Jarosz
Sergei Eisenstein’s 1938 historical drama, Alexander Nevsky (screening Nov. 5 at 2:00 & 7:00), features a score by Sergei Prokofiev which he later re-worked into a concert work which is frequently performed. This was Eisenstein’s first film to include sound, and the collaboration between the two artists was extremely strong: some of the film was shot to Prokofiev’s music and some of Prokofiev’s music was composed to Eisenstein’s footage. Some consider this score to be the best ever composed for the cinema.
- “Alexander Nevsky, Op.78: 2. Song About Alexander Nevsky” by Sergei Prokofiev — LSO/Abbado
- “Alexander Nevsky, Op.78: 7. Aleksander’s Entry into Pskov” by Sergei Prokofiev — LSO/Abbado
Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov’s recent recitals at Caramoor have been truly memorable. His repertoire is wide-ranging, but his most recent recording is of Rachmaninoff.
- “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: 1. Moderato” by Sergei Rachmaninoff; Daniil Trifonov
- “Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14” by Sergei Rachmaninoff; Daniil Trifonov
I really loved The Triplets of Belleville (screening Dec. 3 at 2:00 & 7:00) when it came out in 2004. It’s a French animated feature that contains little dialogue; most of the story is told through song and pantomime. The “Triplets” of the title are music hall singers from the 1930’s, and Josephine Baker and Django Reinhardt make cameos in a flashback. The song “Belleville Rendez-vous” was nominated for Best Song in Academy Awards, but lost out to “Into the West” from The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King.
- “After You’re Gone” — Quintette du Hot Club de France
- “C’est Ca Le Vrai Bonheur” — Joséphine Baker
- “Belleville Rendez-vous” — -M-
- “It Don’t Mean a Thing” — Quintette du Hot Club de France
Ted Sperling is well known in the theater and concert worlds. He’s appeared at Caramoor several times – most recently as music director of a wonderful evening celebrating Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday. He has been Music Director for many Broadway shows, including My Fair Lady, which just closed in July but thankfully was captured on a new cast recording.”
- “With a Little Bit of Luck” from My Fair Lady (2018 Broadway cast, Ted Sperling, conductor)
Original series Caramoor at the Burns: Movies Musicians Love is proudly presented in partnership with the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. Tickets are available for every Caramoor at the Burns: Movies Musicians Love screening through the series page on the JBFC website.
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