This documentary takes us back to one of the oldest forms of Western music, using Chris King’s collection of 78 RPM LPs. King is an American music expert fascinated by early recordings of melancholy blues and folk from the start of the twentieth century. One of his favourites: the sad violin music of Greek Alexis Zoumbas, who emigrated to New York in 1910. It doesn’t get any better. “Everything recorded after 1949 is rubbish”, King opines.
Duane’s title derives from the Seikilos song, the world’s oldest recorded piece of music, from Greece. The
transcendental music carved into the stone remains alive in Epirus, where
Greeks gather every summer to play, dance and sing. King travels there to
experience the enchanting phenomenon that rekindles his love for this art form.
After the screening, stick around for a Q&A with the filmmakers and a performance by 78 rpm records DJ Blue Flamingo.
Scopitone Café, free admission
Film details
- Countries of production
- Greece, Ireland, USA
- Year
- 2018
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2019
- Length
- 80'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
