Pianist Yvo Verschoor (1966) studied jazz and improvisation at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He has specialized in accompanying silent films since 1992, and regularly performs with films at the Dutch Film museum in Amsterdam, the Art Cinema in The Hague and Cinema and Theatre Lantaren/Venster in Rotterdam and many other venues.
fragment 'Our Hospitality', Keaton
live at Theaterbar, Berlin-Mitte 2008
As he plays, an old art comes to life and an intimate dialogue begins between
the improvised music, the images from which it is inspired and the audience.
Multifaceted elements of jazz, classical and contemporary music form the
basis of his improvisations which revive the images and let them tell their
story in atmosphere, image and sound.
Passion, drama and comedy are musically
interpreted to form a unity, which is different and new every single time.
Improvised music is different everytime it's performed, best explained as instant composing or on the spot composing.
Music very much influences the way an object (in this case film) is seen and experienced, so if the music is different everytime, the object will be (or seem) different too and the combination between object and music is unique every time. It only exists there and then.
The 'modern' grand piano is very suitable because of its diversity of
timbre (tonecolours) and dynamics. A good well tuned instrument
is necessary to a good performance, wich is why Yvo prefers
whenever possible to take his own grandpiano.
'Frau
Blüthner' and Yvo at Theaterbar Berlin
This historic instrument,
'Frau Blüthner',
is a speaking representative of her time. Although it is quite an
effort lugging this old lady around, it is definately worth it; at the
time this concert grand was built by the Blüthner factory in 1897,
tonal quality was more important then merely volume and this instrument
has very broad dynamic possibilities and can really sing.
Open
Air FilmConcert with 'Frau Blüthner'
live fragment Vondelpark
Amsterdam 2008
Unfortunately, the persistant idea still exists, silent films were always
accompanied on old, out of tune piano's. Undoubtedly this often
was the case, but looking at all the tremendous trouble and huge expences
involved in producing those films, it simply can't have been like that
in all theatres.
The beginning years of film were also the top years for
the piano manufacturing industries and some of the best instruments were
build (and thus played on) in that period.
Verschoor has made several scores for documentaries, feature films and compilations that have been performed live
and released on video.
Verschoor often tours Dutch, Belgian and German theatres with film, music and theatre performances, for both adults and children. He also works with actors, storytellers and many other musicians.
Due to his coöperation with the Dutch Filmmuseum
for
many years, he has accompanied solo thousands of well-known and not so
well known films and programmes of films from the period 1895-1929.
(please click AGENDA for
playlist)
Verschoor is fascinated by the power of antique and photographic images
and slides, and has been involved in several live productions in cooperation
with The Magic Lantern Museum
in Scheveningen, Holland.
One such performance was the English spoken 'Uncle
Tom's Cabin', with actor/violinist Michael Wilcox, that also was performed
at Vassar College USA.
He also regularly performs his own compositions and improvisations together
with violinist Marike Verheul,
which are inspired by images, texts and the performing situation. (occasion,
location, audience)
'Seagull' fragment
live concert
Koorenhuis The Hague
Marike and Yvo recently recorded their new CD at a small
church.
Photo: Reinder Wijnveld
He has written music for films by contemporary visual
artist David Haines.
Yvo Verschoor regularly plays at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
IFFR, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam IDFA, Holland Animation
Film Festival, Festival of Silent Film in Bologna Il cinema Ritrovato,
Filmmuseum Biennial in Amsterdam, Dutch Filmfestival Utrecht, Münster-Filmfestival
Germany, Filmmuseum in Berlin and the OEROL Theatre Festival
Dutch Television item OEROL 2008
In addition, he has produced and performed shows at schools, such as 'Rintintin' and 'The Mystery of the Southpole' and collaborates with the Film Academy and the University of Amsterdam to produce film programmes.
He also teaches piano-improvisation and gives lectures and workshops on
improvised filmmusic and history of the silent cinema.
Yvo and Frau Blüthner with
'Entr'acte'
in Berlin> (photo: Reinder Wijnveld)>
