Dennis James is an American musician and historic preservationist who
played "a pivotal role in the international revival of silent films as
presented with period-authentic live music." Beginning in 1969, he
presented historically informed live accompaniments for silent films,
with piano, theatre organ, chamber ensemble and full symphony
orchestras, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and overseas.
He is now primarily active as a noted multi-instrumentalist,
specializing on Franklin glass armonica and the theremin, prominently
performing in New York at the Metropolitan Opera, for Hollywood film
scorings, and repeat performances at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart
Festival (debuting in 1991 with Roger Norrington and the London
Classical Players) plus performing at the Tanglewood Festival with the
Boston Symphony Orchestra performing the intricate glass armonica
complete part in the U.S. debut of George Benjamin's opera "Written On
Skin.".James has also become active in the preservation and
restoration of other historic instruments such as the French Cristal
d’ Baschet and Ondes Martenot plus has begun performing early
syncopated jazz and mid-century moderne styled period-piano repertoire
within a multitude of other specialist musical activities generally
considered of marginal cultural impact and predominantly subject to
the periodic whims of amateurs and enthusiasts.James was born in
Philadelphia in 1950 and began formal organ training at the age of 12.
At the age of 16, he replaced his teacher, Leonard ‘Melody Mac’
MacClain, in concert when the latter suffered a heart attack before
the performance, and that exposure put him on an international touring
circuit. James attended Indiana University's School of Music as a
student of concert and church organ performance, earning his
bachelor's and master's degrees under the tutelage of Dr. Oswald G.
Ragatz.James' interest in silent film performance with live music
dates from 1969 at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. As
James recalls, "The late 'Flicker Fingers' himself, California touring
theatre organist Gaylord Carter, was at the Wurlitzer theatre pipe
organ console and on the screen Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. in The Mark of
Zorro. In classic 'Chorus Line' fashion, I turned to my Dad at the end
and said 'I can do that!'"
played "a pivotal role in the international revival of silent films as
presented with period-authentic live music." Beginning in 1969, he
presented historically informed live accompaniments for silent films,
with piano, theatre organ, chamber ensemble and full symphony
orchestras, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and overseas.
He is now primarily active as a noted multi-instrumentalist,
specializing on Franklin glass armonica and the theremin, prominently
performing in New York at the Metropolitan Opera, for Hollywood film
scorings, and repeat performances at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart
Festival (debuting in 1991 with Roger Norrington and the London
Classical Players) plus performing at the Tanglewood Festival with the
Boston Symphony Orchestra performing the intricate glass armonica
complete part in the U.S. debut of George Benjamin's opera "Written On
Skin.".James has also become active in the preservation and
restoration of other historic instruments such as the French Cristal
d’ Baschet and Ondes Martenot plus has begun performing early
syncopated jazz and mid-century moderne styled period-piano repertoire
within a multitude of other specialist musical activities generally
considered of marginal cultural impact and predominantly subject to
the periodic whims of amateurs and enthusiasts.James was born in
Philadelphia in 1950 and began formal organ training at the age of 12.
At the age of 16, he replaced his teacher, Leonard ‘Melody Mac’
MacClain, in concert when the latter suffered a heart attack before
the performance, and that exposure put him on an international touring
circuit. James attended Indiana University's School of Music as a
student of concert and church organ performance, earning his
bachelor's and master's degrees under the tutelage of Dr. Oswald G.
Ragatz.James' interest in silent film performance with live music
dates from 1969 at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. As
James recalls, "The late 'Flicker Fingers' himself, California touring
theatre organist Gaylord Carter, was at the Wurlitzer theatre pipe
organ console and on the screen Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. in The Mark of
Zorro. In classic 'Chorus Line' fashion, I turned to my Dad at the end
and said 'I can do that!'"
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.