**FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY-PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE THIS LINK**

The film 4 Devils was released in 1928 by Fox Film Corporation. Directed by FW Murnau (Sunrise, Nosferatu), the circus-themed melodrama was a full-fledged Hollywood production of the late silent era. After its release, the film disappeared, the last remaining copy reputedly burned in a fire. 

85 years later, composer Robert Stillman attempts to conjure 4 Devils back into existence with Leap of Death, a 44-minute suite that leads the listener through a musical reconstruction of the 4 Devils narrative. Drawing inspiration from existing 4 Devils scripts, production stills, and promotional material in the Hollywood Fox Film archives, Stillman’s composition employs big-top circus waltzes, contrapuntal aerial acts, and ‘femme fatale’ ballad themes that give vivid form to Murnau’s lost narrative. 

Leap of Death is performed by saxophonist Stillman and the Archaic Future Players, an ensemble featuring some of the UK’s leading young musicians (Mercury-nominated organist Kit Downes, ‘Take Five’ selected trumpet player Nick Malcolm). The music was recorded in November 2013, and will be released this May as part of a limited-edition bookwork/LP in collaboration with writer/printmaker Anna Fewster and book artist Sarah Bryant. Live performance of the piece is augmented by projections of text and imagery from the bookwork, creating an engaging, multimedia encounter with the ghost of the 4 Devils film.  

This project is supported by a Grant from the Arts from the Arts Council of England

9.Woman of the World

**FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY-PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE THIS LINK**

The film 4 Devils was released in 1928 by Fox Film Corporation. Directed by FW Murnau (Sunrise, Nosferatu), the circus-themed melodrama was a full-fledged Hollywood production of the late silent era. After its release, the film disappeared, the last remaining copy reputedly burned in a fire. 

85 years later, composer Robert Stillman attempts to conjure 4 Devils back into existence with Leap of Death, a 44-minute suite that leads the listener through a musical reconstruction of the 4 Devils narrative. Drawing inspiration from existing 4 Devils scripts, production stills, and promotional material in the Hollywood Fox Film archives, Stillman’s composition employs big-top circus waltzes, contrapuntal aerial acts, and ‘femme fatale’ ballad themes that give vivid form to Murnau’s lost story-world. 

Leap of Death is performed by saxophonist Stillman and the Archaic Future Players, an ensemble featuring some of the UK’s leading young musicians (Mercury-nominated organist Kit Downes, ‘Take Five’ selected trumpet player Nick Malcolm). The music was recorded in November 2013, and will be released this May as part of a limited-edition bookwork/LP in collaboration with writer/printmaker Anna Fewster and book artist Sarah Bryant. Live performance of the piece is augmented by projections of text and imagery from the bookwork, creating an engaging, multimedia encounter with the ghost of the 4 Devils film.  

This project is supported by a Grant from the Arts from the Arts Council of England

10.We Undersign Most Honourably, The 4 Devils

11.Crisis Music

12.Lady Interlude

13.Amore Leap of Death

14.Without A Net (Ending- Fatality)

15.Without A Net! (Ending 2- Survival and Declaration of Love)

The film 4 Devils was released in 1928 by Fox Film Corporation. Directed by FW Murnau (Sunrise, Nosferatu), the circus-themed melodrama was a full-fledged Hollywood production of the late silent era. After its release, the film disappeared, the last remaining copy reputedly burned in a fire. 

85 years later, composer Robert Stillman attempts to conjure 4 Devils back into existence with Leap of Death, a 44-minute suite that leads the listener through a musical reconstruction of the 4 Devils narrative. Drawing inspiration from existing 4 Devils scripts, production stills, and promotional material in the Hollywood Fox Film archives, Stillman’s composition employs big-top circus waltzes, contrapuntal aerial acts, and ‘femme fatale’ ballad themes that give vivid form to Murnau’s lost story-world. 

Leap of Death is performed by saxophonist Stillman and the Archaic Future Players, an ensemble featuring some of the UK’s leading young musicians (Mercury-nominated organist Kit Downes, ‘Take Five’ selected trumpet player Nick Malcolm). The music was recorded in November 2013, and will be released this May as part of a limited-edition bookwork/LP in collaboration with writer/printmaker Anna Fewster and book artist Sarah Bryant. Live performance of the piece is augmented by projections of text and imagery from the bookwork, creating an engaging, multimedia encounter with the ghost of the 4 Devils film.  

This project is supported by a Grant from the Arts from the Arts Council of England

ROBERT STILLMAN

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