MUSIC 2F03 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: New York Philharmonic, Max Steiner, Sound Film
Document Summary
Solution to the problems of musical accompaniment recorded and synchronized sound. Sound and silent films existed together for several years: driven by progress in recording technology (commercial radio became a major force in the world. The record industry growing music industry was dominated by sheet music: demonstrations of sound films as early as 1922. The sound on records was based on the vitaphone system (large records that ran on a machine which was synchronized to the same electronic motor as the projector). Vitaphone took the early lead: advantage was that records were older/more familiar than movies, simple technology, good quality sound, disadvantage was poor synchronization, records wore out over time. Showing films: too many contesting sound systems, small number of 20 000 theatres were equipped for sound, end of 1930, almost 9000 theatres, by 1935, the transition is complete, massive layoffs of theatre musicians.
