Release Date:
Downloads include choice of MP3, WAV, or FLAC
BSXDG0186
Includes Digital Booklet
BSX DIGITAL presents music from the first original motion picture soundtrack for THE BIRTH OF A NATION, the 1915 period epic directed by the legendary D.W. Griffith, written by Thomas Dixon, Jr., Frank E. Woods and Griffith, starring Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann, Walter Long, Robert Harron, Wallace Reid, Joseph Henabery, Elmer Clifton, Josephine Crowell, Spottiswoode Aitken, George Beranger, Maxfield Stanley, Jennie Lee and Donald Crisp.
THE BIRTH OF A NATION is a landmark in film history, lauded for its technical virtuosity. It was the first non-serial American 12-reel film ever made. The plot of the film, part fiction and part history, chronicles the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth and the relationship of two families in the Civil War and Reconstruction eras over the course of several years, the pro-Union (Northern) Stonemans and the pro-Confederacy (Southern) Camerons. THE BIRTH OF A NATION was originally shown in two parts separated by an intermission, and it was the first American-made film to have a musical score for an orchestra.
Joseph Carl Breil Joseph was the first of four children born to Joseph and Margaret Breil of Pittsburgh. Breil graduated from Duquesne University (then the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost) in 1888. He later composed the alma mater for the university, which was first performed in October 1920. He also pursued studies at St Fidelis College and Curry Commercial College in Pittsburgh before being sent by his family to the University of Leipzig to study law. While in Leipzig, he began to study music composition and singing at the Leipzig Conservatory. These were followed by singing lessons in Milan and Philadelphia. Breil toured as principal tenor of the Emma Juch Opera Company before returning to Pittsburgh to teach singing and to direct the choir of St Paul's Cathedral. From 1897 to 1903, he was music director for several theatre companies. Breil was one of the earliest American composers to compose specific music for motion pictures. His first film was LES AMOURS DE LA REINE ÉLISABETH, starring Sarah Bernhardt. He later composed and arranged scores for several other early motion pictures, including INTOLERANCE and THE PRISONER OF ZENDA, as well as scoring the preview version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
Clyde Allen was born in Los Angeles, California and is an internationally recognized authority on music for silent films. He began his musical training privately with piano lessons at the age of three. At the age of seven, he commenced classes at the former Los Angeles Conservatory, subsequently studying violin, harpsichord and harp. Allen was composing early and, by the age of 14, had not only authored piano and choral works, but had also begun writing an opera. At 15, he performed solo piano parts in the world premieres of several works by Peter Schickele (also know as "P.D.Q. Bach"). At 16, while still in high school, he was simultaneously admitted to UCLA. Privately, Allen studied composition with Eugene Zador, electronic synthesis with Paul Beaver, and conducting with Fritz Zweig. For many years, he was music director and conductor for the Los Angeles Ballet, as well as music director for classical music stations KFAC AM/FM in Los Angeles. He also served as music director for the Los Angeles International Film Exposition (FILMEX). Allen is a trustee of the Ballet of Los Angeles, the Native American Ballet (of which he is the founder), and the Society for the Preservation of Film Music. He received the Golden Halo Award in recognition of his contribution to the performing arts with the release of this recording of the original 1915 score for THE BIRTH OF A NATION.
BSX Digital presents THE BIRTH OF A NATION, featuring music composed by Joseph Carl Breil, performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Clyde Allen. Originally released on vinyl in 1985 by Fifth Continent Music and later in the early days of compact discs by Label X, this recording of Joseph Breil’s music marked the first time that an American orchestral score for a silent film had ever been released commercially. This recording also marked the first time a digital recording was ever made in New Zealand. The music for this new release has been remastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland and carries over the original liner notes by conductor Clyde Allen.
THE BIRTH OF A NATION: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Joseph Carl Breil
$8.95
Downloads include choice of MP3, WAV, or FLAC
BSXDG0186
Includes Digital Booklet
BSX DIGITAL presents music from the first original motion picture soundtrack for THE BIRTH OF A NATION, the 1915 period epic directed by the legendary D.W. Griffith, written by Thomas Dixon, Jr., Frank E. Woods and Griffith, starring Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann, Walter Long, Robert Harron, Wallace Reid, Joseph Henabery, Elmer Clifton, Josephine Crowell, Spottiswoode Aitken, George Beranger, Maxfield Stanley, Jennie Lee and Donald Crisp.
THE BIRTH OF A NATION is a landmark in film history, lauded for its technical virtuosity. It was the first non-serial American 12-reel film ever made. The plot of the film, part fiction and part history, chronicles the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth and the relationship of two families in the Civil War and Reconstruction eras over the course of several years, the pro-Union (Northern) Stonemans and the pro-Confederacy (Southern) Camerons. THE BIRTH OF A NATION was originally shown in two parts separated by an intermission, and it was the first American-made film to have a musical score for an orchestra.
Joseph Carl Breil Joseph was the first of four children born to Joseph and Margaret Breil of Pittsburgh. Breil graduated from Duquesne University (then the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost) in 1888. He later composed the alma mater for the university, which was first performed in October 1920. He also pursued studies at St Fidelis College and Curry Commercial College in Pittsburgh before being sent by his family to the University of Leipzig to study law. While in Leipzig, he began to study music composition and singing at the Leipzig Conservatory. These were followed by singing lessons in Milan and Philadelphia. Breil toured as principal tenor of the Emma Juch Opera Company before returning to Pittsburgh to teach singing and to direct the choir of St Paul's Cathedral. From 1897 to 1903, he was music director for several theatre companies. Breil was one of the earliest American composers to compose specific music for motion pictures. His first film was LES AMOURS DE LA REINE ÉLISABETH, starring Sarah Bernhardt. He later composed and arranged scores for several other early motion pictures, including INTOLERANCE and THE PRISONER OF ZENDA, as well as scoring the preview version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
Clyde Allen was born in Los Angeles, California and is an internationally recognized authority on music for silent films. He began his musical training privately with piano lessons at the age of three. At the age of seven, he commenced classes at the former Los Angeles Conservatory, subsequently studying violin, harpsichord and harp. Allen was composing early and, by the age of 14, had not only authored piano and choral works, but had also begun writing an opera. At 15, he performed solo piano parts in the world premieres of several works by Peter Schickele (also know as "P.D.Q. Bach"). At 16, while still in high school, he was simultaneously admitted to UCLA. Privately, Allen studied composition with Eugene Zador, electronic synthesis with Paul Beaver, and conducting with Fritz Zweig. For many years, he was music director and conductor for the Los Angeles Ballet, as well as music director for classical music stations KFAC AM/FM in Los Angeles. He also served as music director for the Los Angeles International Film Exposition (FILMEX). Allen is a trustee of the Ballet of Los Angeles, the Native American Ballet (of which he is the founder), and the Society for the Preservation of Film Music. He received the Golden Halo Award in recognition of his contribution to the performing arts with the release of this recording of the original 1915 score for THE BIRTH OF A NATION.
BSX Digital presents THE BIRTH OF A NATION, featuring music composed by Joseph Carl Breil, performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Clyde Allen. Originally released on vinyl in 1985 by Fifth Continent Music and later in the early days of compact discs by Label X, this recording of Joseph Breil’s music marked the first time that an American orchestral score for a silent film had ever been released commercially. This recording also marked the first time a digital recording was ever made in New Zealand. The music for this new release has been remastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland and carries over the original liner notes by conductor Clyde Allen.
