Two men pit themselves against each other, taking on the challenge of the Matterhorn. As they test their limits to conquer one of the highest peak of the Alps, they also hope to win the heart of the same woman.
This is the story that plays out in the 1928 German-Swiss silent film Fight For The Matterhorn, which will be screened on Friday at the opening of the 6th Silent Film Festival. Hosted by the Thai Film Archive (Public Organisation), the festival runs until Sunday at the Scala Theatre.
But Friday, the silent Alpine adventure won't be silent. Instead, it will be accompanied by a musical score performed live by Thai contemporary fusion band Korphai.
Over the course of nearly four decades of their existence, Korphai have forged a considerable reputation. For around half of that time, they have been involved in film scores in one form or another. Firstly, more than 20 years ago, Korphai played to the 1929 comedy Magic Ring by King Rama VII. Some years later, their score for the 2004 film The Overture won several domestic awards. And in 2012, the band collaborated with international musicians to compose a score for The Light Of Asia, a 1925 German-Indian film, based on the life of Lord Buddha.
Korphai (the name translates as a bunch of bamboo), were formed in 1980. The band came about when Thai traditional music veteran Anan Nakkong invited friends from different academic institutes to perform for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Thai classical maestro Luang Pradit Pairoh (Sorn Silpabanleng).
Two years on, Korphai captured the limelight when they won the prestigious Thailand National Music Contest organised by the Luang Pradit Pairoh (Sorn Silpabanleng) Foundation at the National Theatre. Since then, their numbers have expanded. However, they still consider themselves an amateur band.
Currently, the group has more than 10 members. Most have full-time jobs and gather to play music in their free time. Each member can play more than one instrument, with chief music arranger Chaibhuk Bhutrachinda, for example, playing metallophone, khong wong yai, electronic piano and guitar.
He admitted that creating scores for silent films presents a significant challenge.
Chaibhuk Bhutrachinda, centre, and Korphai. Photo courtesy of Korphai Band
"Sound film can communicate through the dialogue, score and even silent moments," he said. "But for a silent film, live music performance is used to express atmosphere, emotion and just about everything else. It is difficult because we have to create music to fill 117 minutes."
In order to come up with the music for Fight For The Matterhorn, Korphai started off by studying the film to get a sense of its mood, storyline and concept.
"We discussed what the music should be like in order to express the different scenes," Chaibhuk explained. "It could be fast, slow, floating or grooving. All band members have to agree on the sounds and rhythms, but the details are improvised by each musician.
"Improvisation is the charm of live performance. It makes the music different each time we play."
The main instrument will be the piano, as is typical with silent films, but there will be other instruments too.
"We have a metallophone, an alto-xylophone, percussion, drums and two brass instruments," he said.
Chaibhuk was one of the Korphai members who performed the score for Magic Ring. He said most live performances for silent films in the past used either a traditional Thai brass band or Thai string instrument ensemble. Without prior experience playing music scores, Korphai decided to do what others did and chose to use string instruments.
"At that time, there were no set musical arrangements for silent films," Chaibhuk recalled. "We used whatever music we felt went along with the film. If there was a scene about water, we performed a song about water. If there was a sweet moment, we played a romantic song. We often had to stop playing suddenly because the scene would end before we had time to finish the song. But it was our first experience. It was fun."
For their score for The Light Of Asia, three musicians from Korphai performed with Indian musicians, a guitarist from Singapore and a pianist from Europe.
"Each musician had different backgrounds. We shared our ideas and feelings about the film. The Indian musicians played the tabla, which suited along the film very well. We expressed the story with our guitars, which added a Thai flavour. We divided the parts for each musician. The resulting music was smooth, diverse and colourful."
What's distinctive about Korphai is the band has always been made up of members with diverse musical characteristics, allowing the group to continue to expand its repertoire from traditional-based compositions into areas such as folk, pop, fusion jazz and experimental music. Over the years, the band has released a number of CDs and performed throughout Thailand and abroad, including in the US, the UK, Austria, France, South Korea, China and India. The band members also give lectures, demonstrations and workshops for educational and cultural-appreciation purposes.
While some are concerned over the future of Thai traditional music, Chaibhuk believes it will continue to have a place among a wide audience. But it needs help.
The piano is central to live film scores. Photo: Jetjaras Na Ranong
"If people don't support Thai traditional music, it will fade in popularity. The instruments will probably be played only in academic institutes. The media should play a role in supporting this important cultural tradition and provide more content on it. Thai traditional music is for a niche market. It's difficult to make money out of it. But it's important for educational purposes."
For video of this story, visit bangkokpost.com/vdo.
SILENT NIGHT
Hosted by the Thai Film Archive (Public Organisation), the 6th Silent Film Festival in Thailand will screen five films from May 24-26 at the historic 900-seat Scala Theatre in Siam Square.
Fusion group Korphai will perform on the opening night, playing an accompaniment to the adventure film Fight For The Matterhorn.
American pianist and composer Donald Sosin and singer Joanna Seaton will play live accompaniment for the rest of the programme. Film screenings will be accompanied with Thai and English intertitles.
With support from the Goethe Institut, the Silent Film Festival aims to offer a unique cinematic experience and promote appreciation of film culture and history to viewers in Thailand.
A scene from Fight For The Matterhorn. Film Archive
The programme is as follows:
♦ May 24, 7.30pm (opening night)
Fight For The Matterhorn (Germany, Switzerland / 1928 / 117min)
An Alpine thriller with a romantic subplot, Fight For The Matterhorn is based on the true historical account of two climbing parties in a race to the summit of one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The film was shot on location and features spectacular Alpine scenery.
Live music accompaniment by Korphai.
♦ May 25, 6.30pm
7th Heaven (USA / 1927 / 118min)
A love story between a sewer worker and a poor woman set in Paris during World War I, 7th Heaven was an inspiration for a 1958 Thai film Sawan Mued (Dark Heaven) directed by R.D. Pestonji.
Live music accompaniment by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton.
8.30pm
Filibus (Italy / 1915 / 70min)
A 1915 Italian crime thriller that boasts daring heists, exciting subterfuge, dazzling colours and a touch of feminism, Filibus tells the story of a sky pirate who flies high in her airship and wreaks havoc on billionaires and bankers.
Live music accompaniment by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton.
A scene from Shiraz: A Romance Of India. Photos: Film Archive
♦ May 26, 6.15pm
Shiraz: A Romance Of India (UK, Germany, India / 1928 / 105min)
Based on a romantic tragedy between the 17th-century Mughal ruler Shah Jahan and his queen, Shiraz tells a ravishing tale behind the creation of one of the world's most iconic structures: the Taj Mahal.
Live music accompaniment by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton.
8.30pm
Speedy (USA / 1928 / 86min)
Harold Lloyd's last silent film is a superb valedictory to the silent era. Speedy is baseball-crazy young man in New York who cannot hold a job. He has to find a horse that has been stolen in order to save his girlfriend's horse-drawn carriage franchise.
Live music accompaniment by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton.
Tickets are 120, 140 and 160 baht available at Scala. Visit facebook.com/silentfilmthailand.
