Renée Falconetti as Joan of Arc.
Writing and performing soundtracks for new or silent films, Lori’s goal is to add a voice that amplifies the mood and clarifies the action.
Her recent commissions include an HBO documentary, three short films by Seattle director Lynn Shelton, a dance film by 33 Fainting Spells and an educational film funded by the Canadian Film Board. She is perhaps best known, however, for composing, directing and performing soundtracks for more than 40 silent films.
Though she has often performed her harrowing, dream-like cello score to accompany Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film masterpiece, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” she’s been praised for keeping it a truly live experience — even for her. Drawing from medieval secular and liturgical music, free improvisation and electronics, the score was originally commissioned by Emily Charles of the Fine Arts Theater in Berkeley in July of 1998.
“The grammar of editing has changed over the years so sometimes it’s hard for people to watch silent films,” she says. Studying the film and the filmmaker, she uses music to translate the movie’s original intent, helping people appreciate mood, pace and timing.
Lori felt privileged when her accompaniment to “The Passion of Joan of Arc” debuted with an introductory talk by Marie Falconetti, daughter of Renée, whose performance as Joan has been described as one of the finest ever recorded on film. In addition to accompanying the film at such venues as the Time-Based Art Festival and Northwest Film Center in Portland, Ore., Lori collaborated with producer Tucker Martine to record it.