Around 2010, I was approached to develop an idea to perform a live score for a motion picture. Despite having contributed some of my music to film projects in the past, this was the first time I was asked to write original music for a full feature.

Having dabbled with different variants of what could be considered noise and dark ambient music before, and having a lifetime of deep appreciation for the horror genre in cinema, it seemed more than appropriate to pick one, if not THE most influential horror film of the silent era and, perhaps, of all time: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

The following are recording excerpts of some of my favourite pieces from the early sessions of the composition process, as I struggled to figure out how to write and perform to picture with machines and live instruments.

Music Written & Performed for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

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Overlapse

An Homage to Bernard Parmegiani (27 October 1927 - 22 November 2013).

Photography by Ivan Mathie.

Entre-temps — An Homage to Bernard Parmegiani (27.10.1927 - 21.11.2013)

We Who Are Of Noble Blood May Not Follow The Wishes Of Our Hearts

It Couldn't Have Been Cesare...

How Long Will I Live?

Awaken For A Moment From Your Dark Night

Spirits Surround Us On Every Side

The 25 de Abril Bridge holds a special place in Portuguese history. It was originally built during the dictatorship era and was called the Salazar Bridge, named after the authoritarian leader António de Oliveira Salazar. But everything changed on April 25, 1974, during the Carnation Revolution. That day marked the end of the dictatorship, and the bridge was renamed to commemorate the event.

It's a striking sight with its red colour and expansive span across the Tagus River, connecting Lisbon to the south of Portugal. The bridge stands as a symbol of Portugal's transition to democracy and its ability to overcome adversity. It's more than just a means of transportation; it's a reminder of the country's resilience and the power of unity and change.

Although I had the chance to experience the sounds of the bridge from under it multiple times before, this was the first time I had the opportunity to record it. The sound of the vehicles going over and under the bridge creates a beautiful natural droning sound that is rich and ever-changing.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. With democracies worldwide encountering some of their most significant challenges in recent history, it is crucial to recall the significance of constructing bridges to connect with each other rather than building walls to isolate ourselves from the rest of the world.

240111 - 162919

Lisbon, April 25th, 2024.

I was born in 1983, a mere nine years after the Carnation Revolution on the 25th of April, 1974; however, my parents belong to a generation that left Portugal searching for a more promising future.

Although I have no recollection of this crucial moment in the history of the country’s democracy, I still remember the fall of the Berlin Wall, even if I lacked the maturity to understand its historical and symbolic significance for humankind.

This changed when I had the opportunity to visit Berlin during the summer of 2018 and personally saw the remnants of what once symbolised the Iron Curtain and Europe’s division.

Being in the presence of historic monuments or sites presents the opportunity to put into perspective the reality of the moments many of us have only learned from books or documentaries, bringing us tangibly closer to something that not only became part of history but also survived said history to be able to display it to us.

Around five years ago, my dear friend Pedro Jafuno showed me pictures of the Carnation Revolution, and I recognised in one of them Rua Vítor Cordon, the street where he was living at the time. This shifted my perspective, bringing me remarkably close to that reality.

The notion that the army and the people stepped on that very same pavement that day in 1974 stuck with me, and that’s when I became aware of all the places and symbols that survived history and now allow us to learn from it.

Through this work, I intend to re-enact the perspective and narrow the gap between the reality of the Portuguese people before, during, and after the 25th of April. I also intend to highlight the importance of preserving and protecting the enormous legacy of the revolution: our democracy.

Today, as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Carnation Revolution in 1974, my civic duty is to contribute so that history is not forgotten.

I hope that you won't forget either.

Jerome Faria

2504

From the album "Overlapse" available on Enough Records.

Decay II

Sustain I

Attack (Prelude)

Sustain II

Decay I

Decay III

Release (Conclusion)

8:58

Jerome Faria (b. 1983) is an electronic composer and producer based in Lisbon, Portugal.

His work includes music for film and theatre, and is described as "a complex experiment in sound dissection, as Jerome pursues pure forms of sound composition, some being harsh and brute while others are harmonious and contemplating."

Jerome Faria

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