The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: An Original Film Score

Abstract

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: An Original Film Score is a multi-movement work that accompanies the German silent horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). The work features a rather unusual combination of eastern and western acoustic instruments in a format traditional to the Hollywood film composition idiom. The audio recording of the score was produced using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) virtual studio technology instruments (VSTi). However, the score is intended for, and translatable to live multi-media presentations of the film with chamber ensemble accompaniment. This supporting document contains: A discussion of my thoughts on the film and film score, a detailed discussion of film music elements and methodology, details of my own methodology with a breakdown of the music cues, motivic development, synchronization, an outline of the unique orchestration of the score, all of the cues in score/narrative order, and lastly, my assessment of the overall project and aspirations for future film scoring endeavors.