Songs (Stan Brakhage cycle)

The Songs are a cycle of silent color 8mm films by the American experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage produced from 1964 to 1969. They are seen as one of Brakhage's major works [1][2] and include the feature-length 23rd Psalm Branch, considered by some to be one of the filmmaker's masterworks[3] and described by film historian P. Adams Sitney as "an apocalypse of imagination."[4] One of the filmmaker's most overtly political films, 23rd Psalm Branch is often interpreted as being Brakhage's reaction to the Vietnam War.[5]

Songs
Directed byStan Brakhage
CinematographyStan Brakhage
Release dates
1964–1969
1979–1987 (revisions)
Running time
Approx. 289 min. (Total)
CountryUnited States

Production of the Cycle

During a 1964 visit to New York City, Brakhage's 16mm film equipment was stolen.[6] Unable to afford the cost of replacing the equipment, Brakhage instead opted to buy cheaper 8mm film equipment, which at the time was being marketed to amateurs to use for home movies. The Songs were Brakhage's first works in the medium. Altogether, there are 31 parts to the cycle, all but one of which is numbered in some way. Brakhage would occasionally combine two parts to make one film, making for a total of 25 films, including both parts of Song 27, which were released separately. Though most of the Songs are only a few minutes, some are as long as half an hour and the 23rd part, titled 23rd Psalm Branch, runs 69 minutes. Projected as a series, the cycle runs about 289 minutes.

Starting in 1979, Brakhage released reprinted and revised versions of some of the Songs films, including a 16mm version of 23rd Psalm Branch in two parts. This version runs a total of 78 minutes. In 1987, Brakhage released a 20-minute version of My Mtn. Song 27, the first half of the cycle's 27th part.

The Films

YearTitleFormatLength
1964Song 18mm3 minutes
1964Song 2 & Song 38mm412 minutes
1964Song 48mm3 minutes
1964Song 58mm312 minutes
1964Song 6 & Song 78mm412 minutes
1964Song 88mm312 minutes
1965Song 9 & Song 108mm7 minutes
1965Song 118mm3 minutes
1965Song 128mm3 minutes
1965Song 138mm3 minutes
1965Song 148mm3 minutes
196515 Song Traits8mm3812 minutes
1965Song 168mm7 minutes
1965Songs 17 & 188mm5 minutes
1965Songs 19 & 208mm8 minutes
1965Songs 21 & 228mm6 minutes
1966 / 196723rd Psalm Branch8mm69 minutes
1968Songs 24 & 258mm612 minutes
1968Song 268mm8 minutes
1968My Mtn. Song 278mm1712 minutes
1969Song 27 (Part II) Rivers8mm24 minutes
1969Song 288mm3 minutes
1969Song 298mm3 minutes
1969American 30's Song8mm35 minutes
1969Window Suite of Children’s Songs8mm24 minutes

References

  1. Offscreen Review of By Brakhage: An Anthology
  2. Chicago Reader: Films by Stan Brakhage
  3. Frameworks Archive: 23rd Psalm Branch in Chicago
  4. Frameworks Archive: 23rd Psalm Branch in Chicago
  5. James, David E. Stan Brakhage : Filmmaker. New York: Temple UP, 2005.
  6. James, David E. Stan Brakhage : Filmmaker. New York: Temple UP, 2005.
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