NYAB Event - Bill Morrison "A MODERN MASTER OF SILENT FILM"

Bill Morrison "A MODERN MASTER OF SILENT FILM"

Brookfield Place (Courtyard Gallery and Winter Garden )

This event has ended.

This winter, Arts Brookfield at World Financial Center will shine a spotlight on the modern master of archival and experimental film, Bill Morrison, in a free, four-night series pairing his acclaimed features with music by some of today’s most renowned composers.

Curated by WNYC’s John Schaefer, New Sounds Live: Silent Films/Live Music will unspool on the big screen at the World Financial Center Winter Garden, which was named one of the “best theaters for cult films” by Time Out New York.

Hailed by Variety as “one of the most adventurous American filmmakers,” Morrison mixes decaying footage from old silent movies with wildly experimental original images and scores to create a stunning film-going experience. Reflecting his impact on modern filmmaking, eight of his films are part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.

The series will kick-off and culminate with live performances by two celebrated new-music orchestras. The Wordless Music Orchestra will accompany Morrison’s The Miners’ Hymns, while The Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble will perform the score for Morrison’s masterpiece Decasia.

Silent Films/Live Music will include:

•The Miners’ Hymns (Tuesday, January 31) – An optical documentary that depicts an ill-fated mining community in England. The Wordless Music Orchestra, conducted by Guðni Franzson, will perform the riveting, brass-heavy score by Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson.

•The Great Flood (Wednesday, February 1) – A brilliant visualization of the most destructive river flood in American history features a playback of the riveting score from eclectic guitar hero Bill Frisell.

•Spark of Being (Thursday, February 2) – Named the Best Experimental/Independent Film of 2011 by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Spark of Being is an adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein” and features a recorded electro-acoustic score by renowned jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas.

•Decasia (Friday, February 3) – Called "the greatest movie ever made” by Academy Award-winning director Errol Morris, Decasia features a haunting score by Bang on a Can co-founder Michael Gordon, which will be performed live by The Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble.