Embracing the visual arts, literature, and music, interest in the West peaked in the early twentieth century. The emerging film industry capitalized on this enthusiasm, and the genre became popular with audiences and lucrative for the studios. Like most silent films, Westerns were accompanied by live musicians who used suggested musical programs to advise them what to play and when to play it during the film. These were often created by professional music directors, such as Ernst Luz (1878-1937), who managed the orchestras at Loew’s movie theaters, or proficient musicians, like Max Winkler (1888-1965), who worked at Carl Fischer Music Publishing and later established his own music publishing firm. This presentation examines two differing musical accompaniments created by Luz and Winkler for The Yaqui—an early Mexican-border prestige Western, the narrative of which is based on the enslavement of the Yaqui by the Mexican government—and the ensuing public debate about their appropriateness. Musical accompaniments for the silent Western, like these by Winkler and Luz, helped shape audiences’ perceptions of the West. This research offers the first critical examination of this music, illuminating its significance in fortifying the mythical substance and interpreting the imagined realism of the Western film.

This event will be held as part of the AMS/Library of Congress Lecture Series. Tickets are free but required.