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The National Museum of Singapore held a media preview for the screening of A Page of Madness/Kurutta Ippeiji, a Japanese silent movie from 1926, with original score written and performed by The Observatory. Frankly, I did not know what to expect. When I walked into the venue, The Observatory was seated in the “pit” so to speak in front of the screen. Then the lights went out…
As the film flickered into life, The Observatory began their performance. The film is set in an asylum and whilst the plot is unclear and the narrative unconventional, there was no denying the power of the images, acting and the directing. I was very impressed by how modern the ideas and concepts were, for a film made over 80 years ago.
To the credit of The Observatory, after about 10-15 minutes, I had actually forgotten that the band was playing the score in front of me. The music (well, mainly ambient noises, electronic bleeps, bowed guitars and the like) had blended in so well with the film, that I believed that the score was coming from the film itself! No mean feat!
Much of the film score was improvisational, which gave the performance a unique quality, with range of sounds being employed by the band rather exceptional. There was one harrowing moment in the film, where frenetic action and The Observatory’s sonic intensity, meshed so well that I actually felt disturbed. It was almost as if I was in an insane asylum! Which I guess was the whole point!!
At the end, I was certain that I had witnessed something very special. I stayed behind to chat with the band as well as Wenjie (from the National Museum) and I was quite thrilled to bits that The Observatory was crossing the grand divide between rock and high art and achieving it with such aplomb.
Catch the screening of A Page of Madness at the National Museum of Singapore, Gallery Theatre, Basement, on SAT 11 DEC 2010, 7.30 pm.
S$18 / $14.40 for concession
Prices listed are exclusive SISTIC booking fees.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.sistic.com.sg, call SISTIC hotline at (65) 6348 5555 or at any SISTIC counters nationwide and National Museum Stamford Visitor Services Counter.
More info here.
DON’T MISS IT!
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