The Pittsburgh Film Orchestra
Experience the Magic of Silent Film
The Pittsburgh Film Orchestra (formerly the Ivy Leaf Orchestra) is dedicated to bringing classic silent films alive for modern audiences. We provide live musical accompaniment using our library of 3,000 original pieces of period music, creating a unique theatrical and emotional experience. Join us as audience, musicians, and film merge into an unforgettable whole.
Playing for Buster Keaton's THE NAVIGATOR - at the Pittsburgh Silent Film Festival - 2024
The Navigator: 1924 to 2024
The PFO had the privilege of providing music for a live screening of Buster Keaton's sublime comedy The Navigator, as part of the 2024 Pittsburgh Silent Film Festival. Our special thanks to Chad Hunter who heads the Pittsburgh Film Society and organized the festival and to Joseph Morrison and the great staff at the Harris Theater in Pittsburgh for hosting and supporting us. Keaton's comedy always wins over a crowd, and this audience laughter so great we couldn't hear ourselves playing at one point. Thanks to all who came out to support the film and our performance.
Silent Film Music Sampler
Enjoy a sample of our work from a live screening of The Johnstown Flood (1925) under our former name: The Ivy Leaf Orchestra.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at eric@pittsilents.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The PFO provides live music in a historically appropriate style for screenings of silent films. We also provide concerts of music written between 1885-1930. We can play classical, light-classical, salon, popular, dance, jazz, and ragtime selections, whatever works best for your film or concert needs.
We are a flexible ensemble, reflecting the real practices of silent film accompaniment in the days of early cinema. Any ensemble of more than one player that featured a string (violin, cello, etc.) could call itself an orchestra and so do we! We typically play in groups of 5, 9, 11, 15, or 22. We have found that 5 players or 10-12 are the two ideal sizes to carry a score and win an audiences heart. Both ensembles were very popular in the 1910's and 20's. We recommend violin, cello, woodwind and trumpet with piano for smaller programs and violin, cello, bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet/cornet, trombone, percussionist and piano with conductor for a fuller sound but a reasonable budget. We can tailor our size to best fit your performance venue, aesthetic approach, or budgetary needs. We can also supply a solo organist or pianist for film accompaniment.
We are willing to provide accompaniment for silent films of all types. We have dozens of films in score currently, but with enough notice we can create a unique and new score for your program and your film. See a sample of our pre-scored shows below. Among our collection of films are scores for Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, John Barrymore, William Hart, and all the great directors of the period - we can provide music for short comic films to epics and German Expressionism. Please contact us to discuss your project.
The cost varies depending on the type of event, duration of the performance, and location. Please contact us for a personalized quote.
Some PFO films in repertoire:
Short Films
Classic films less than an hour long, most are around 22 minutes
The Dream of a Rarebit Fiend
The surreal early Edison comedy, directed by Edwin S. Porter, too much food and drink bring on epic comedy, based on the early comic strip.
The Tramp
Charlie Chaplin's breakthrough character comedy that established the little man with the big heart and funny mustache. One of our several Chaplin scores.
One Week
Buster Keaton's comedy of newly married bliss, house building, and disaster. One of the many Keaton comedies we have in our collection.
Double Whoopee
The bumbling duo of Laurel and Hardy bring their characteristic mayhem to a swanky big city hotel and chaos ensues. Also features a young Jean Harlowe as a blond bombshell.
Feature Films
Full length films for an evening's entertainment
The Mark of Zorro
The foundational film for all swash-bucklers and adventure flicks. Featuring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. as Don Dego righting wrongs in old California
Timothy's Quest
Walter Orlan's gentle and heart-warming tale of two orphans searching for a loving home was filmed on location in rural Maine. Our score for this film is featured on the Flicker Alley Blu-Ray performed by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
The Freshman
Harold Lloyd's college farce and football fantasy, this is the film that sets the standard for all sports comedies. It features rare footage of the 1920's Rose Bowel Games and Lloyd's outstanding stunt work and comedy.
Underworld
Gangsters, molls, and cops - shoot it out in this rousing and dark prohibition era winner from acclaimed director Joseph Sternberg.
A full list of films is available on request
Contact Us
Better yet, hear and see us in person!
See us soon - Our next show date and time will be posted here. If you are interested in talking about a performance, please chat with us.
Pittsburgh Film Orchestra
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