The film pianist returns with an improvisational twist

Three extraordinary Australian musicians have reworked the soundtrack of Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker returning to the days of silent movies to explore improvisation.
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Image: Andrei Tarkovsky on the set of Stalker. 

Before the arrival of the talkies, most audiences saw silent films with a live musical accompaniment. A local pianist would belt out an extended riff, or an orchestra would add class and dignity, or the Mighty Wurlitzer would rise from the pit in a moment of sonic glory.

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David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.