November 3, 2015
Rebirth Of A Nation: DJ Spooky Performed By Kronos Quartet
Steven Bergman READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Paul Miller, aka DJ Spooky, is a contemporary composer / DJ / editor who specializes in remixing films, and turning them into multimedia events that can be used to bring a 21st century perspective to seminal 20th century works. His latest piece is based on D.W. Griffith's controversial 1915 film about racism in the United States, "Birth of a Nation." Working with the internationally known string ensemble, Kronos Quartet, "Rebirth of a Nation" is a 100-minute x-ray of Griffith's silent film, and Miller filters it through a variety of electronic soundscapes, to examine the source material's presentation of racism in our world today, and the changes (or lack thereof) that have occurred in our present culture where we continue to have racial issues that include Trayvon Martin and Ferguson.
The original film ran over three hours, and covers many "faces" of racism and human rights. Based on Thomas Dixon's book. "The Clansman," it covers the KKK, slavery, the Civil War, the assassination of Lincoln, and moves into the early 1900's to show the continued barriers faced by blacks and woman. Taking a modern view on the making of a film made a century ago begs us to ask the question, "Does the showing of such a film send a message of what we shouldn't do, in order to avoid repeating history, or does it stagnate the thought and promote that the problem still exists, and hasn't improved over time?"
In creating the score for his remix, Miller composed his score for the Kronos Quartet to create the musical foundation, that he then took and incorporated on top of an electronic soundscape to create an effective musical montage that accompanies his film editing.
"Rebirth of a Nation" was made in 2007, and has had performances in Hong Kong and at the Acropolis. Now the soundtrack is available from Cantaloupe Music, and persuades us to continue looking deeper into both the Griffith film, and the other works that Miller has created.
"Rebirth of a Nation"
$15.89
CD and digital formats
www.cantaloupemusic.com
