JAZZ ON SCREEN
Gary Lucas postrecords “Der Golem”
exclusive for Europe
Gary Lucas’ performance Der Golem postrecords Paul Wegener & Carl
Boese’s classic silent film. From a 16th-century Jewish legend very
popular in Prague, the film is among the masterworks of German expressionism
and a forerunner of modern horror. In collaboration with Walter Horn, Lucas
conceived a seven-movement score, rich in sound effects that enrich the pathos
inherent to the film.
Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (The Golem), dir. Paul Wegener & Carl
Boese (Germany, 1920, 70’)
Prague, 16th century. Rabbi Judah Loew learns from celestial observation that
a danger is about to strike his people. As a matter of fact, the emperor decrees
that Jews must be evicted from the city, due to their cabbalistic practices.
Using simple clay, Rabbi Loew then creates the Golem, a human-shaped powerful
creature, and brings him to life by means of a magic word. The Golem helps
and protects the Jewish community. However, the Rabbi comes across a warning
in his books: “If you have brought the dead to life through magic, beware
of that life. When Uranus enters the house of the planets, Astaroth will demand
his creature back. Then the lifeless clay will scorn its master and turn to
destroy him and all it meets.” This is what happens. The Golem falls
in love with the Rabbi’s daughter, and becomes furious on seeing her
in the company of a young aristocrat. He kills him, and nothing can restrain
his fury. He destroys all that he meets, he burns his master’s house,
thus setting fire to the ghetto, half of which is burnt down to ashes. Nobody
dares oppose the Golem, whose force seems boundless. But then a young girl…
Gary
Lucas
Due to his work collaboration with Captain Beefheart and Jeff Buckley, Gary
Lucas may be more familiar to rock rather than jazz lovers. Still, he also
worked with a number of important jazz artists, such as, among others, Roswell
Rudd, John Zorn, Steve Swallow, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Tim Berne, and Billy
Bang.
Gary Lucas has got a real gift for experimentation. His variegated musical
career also includes a collaboration with Leonard Bernstein. He has taken
part in the newly reformed Magic Band, Captain Beefheart’s former group,
and in Fast’n’Bulbous project, also a tribute to that old leader,
a sneering genius that unsettled the rules of rock and blues music.
Gary Lucas’s performance will take place at 5.30 pm on Sunday, 11 March,
at the “Piazza Libertà” Auditorium.
The event is organised by the City of Bergamo – Donizetti Theatre, in
cooperation with Bergamo Jazz 2007.
Auditorium di Piazza della Libertà
Sunday 11th march – 5,30 pm
