Joseph Carl Breil

Infobox Person
name = Joseph Carl Breil


image_size = 100px
birth_date = 29 June 1870
birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
death_date = 24 January 1926
death_place = Los Angeles, California
education = Duquesne University (Class of 1888)
known_for = First person to compose a score specifically for a motion picture
occupation = Composer

Joseph Carl Breil (29 June 1870, Pittsburgh - 24 January 1926, Los Angeles) composed the scores for early motion picture epics such as D. W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" and "Intolerance", as well as the theme to the "Amos 'n' Andy" radio show. He graduated from Duquesne University (then the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost) in 1888. Breil later composed the alma mater for the university, which was first performed in October of 1920.cite web | title =Alma Mater | publisher =Duquesne University | url =http://www.alumni.duq.edu/trad-am.html | accessdate =2007-09-23]

According to the IMDB, Breil was the first person to compose a score specifically for a motion picture, "Les amours de la reine Élisabeth" (1912) starring Sarah Bernhardt. [See entry at [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0002020/ IMDB.com] .] Breil also composed several operas, including "The Legend", which premiered in 1919 at the Metropolitan Opera. He died of heart disease in Los Angeles in 1926.cite web | title =Joseph Carl Breil | publisher =Internet Movie Database | url =http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0106922/ | accessdate =2007-09-23]

Operas

*"Orlando of Milan" (c.1888)
*"Love Laughs at Locksmiths" (27 October 1910, Portland, ME)
*"Prof. Tattle" (1913)
*"The Seventh Chord" (1913)
*"The Legend" (12 March 1919, Metropolitan Opera)
*"Der Asra" (24 November 1925, Los Angeles Opera)

References and notes

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0106922/ Joseph Carl Breil] (IMDb)
* [http://www.soundtrack.net/composers/database/?id=20 Joseph Carl Breil] (SoundtrackNet)
* [http://www.usopera.com/composers/breil.html Joseph Carl Breil] (US Opera)
* [http://opera.stanford.edu/composers/B.html Opera Glass]

Audio

* [http://www.alumni.duq.edu/audio/AlmaMater.mp3 Duquesne University's alma mater] (a composition of Breil's)
* [http://www.cinekolossal.com/1/nascita/track1.wav "Prologue" from "Birth of a Nation"]