Ringstad, Ralph, Jr.

English

Ithaca College

Ithaca CollegeDigital Commons @ ICAll Concert & Recital Programs Concert & Recital Programs1-2-2000Concert: A Little Night Music: When MoviesWere SilentRalph Ringstad Jr.Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ithaca.edu/music_programsPart of the Music CommonsThis Program is brought to you for free and open access by the Concert & Recital Programs at Digital Commons @ IC. It has been accepted forinclusion in All Concert & Recital Programs by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ IC.Recommended CitationRingstad, Ralph Jr., "Concert: A Little Night Music: When Movies Were Silent" (2000). All Concert & Recital Programs. 6244.https://digitalcommons.ithaca.edu/music_programs/6244t=l'iday, June '2, '2000 8:15 p.m. James J. 'Whalen (entel' fol' Music ~ Little Night Music: 'When Movies \x! er>e Silent :claimed theater organist Ralph Ringstad Jr. '83 performs accompaniment to lent films made in Ithaca in 1916, when the Wharton Studios worked with the eatest stars of silent film 'el come Arthur Ostrander, Dean, School of Music 1troduction to the Music Ralph Ringstad Jr. '83 1troduction to the Films Beatrice Fairfax Episode"±: '"The Stone God .. An Indian prince arrives in town to avenge the theft of a stone Buddha many years earlier. Terry Harbin Starring Harry Fox, Grace Darling, Betty Howe, Nigel Barrie, James Gordon, Mike Rale, Warner Oland, and Evelyn Farris 25 minutes Patria Episode 1: "Last of the Fighting Channings·' Irene Castle in the title role of Patria Channing discovers hidden treasures and prepares for her role in defending the United States. 10 minutes Episode 3: "Winged Millions" The Channing defense fund is stolen, and a building is burned to the grom1d. Starring Irene Castle, Milton Sills, Warner Oland, and Mike Rale 10 minutes Beatrice Fairfax Episode 7: "A Name for the Baby" A politician is about to marry, only to find out he has a child by another woman. Will he do the honorable thing? Starring Harry Fox, Grace Darling, Mae Marsh, Mary Cranston, Robin Townley, and Allan Murnane 25 minutes 'erry Harbin 'erry Harbin is an avid film historian and a virtual encyclopedia about thaca's 7-year reign over the burgeoning film industry. For the last 12 years , Iarbin has been chronicling a history that is rapidly disappearing as silent lms deteriorate. Thus faT he has amassed an impressive collection of infor-rntion and memorabilia on the serials, features , thrillers , and mysteries pro-uced in the Ithaca area. His vaults have grown to rival those of any local mseum and include a film collection with nine copies of original Ithaca-rnde pictures (all converted to video thanks in part to funding from the U.S. ,ibrary of Congress) , as well as stacks of rare photographs-among them 1any behind-the-scenes and publicity shots. Some of these items are on dis-fay in the McHemy Lobby. Harbin, who works for the Tompkins County ,ibrary and lives in Ithaca, hopes that the library's move to a new, larger acility next fall will mean a resuscitation of the documentary news program 1e once produced in the 1980s. Harbin is ready to put his own mark on thaca's film history as a local documentary maker and record keeper. Ralph Ringstad Jr. '83 Ralph Ringstad grew up in Whippany, New Jersey, and by age 7, he knew his calling: to play the organ. After nearly 10 years of piano study with William Griggs and Anita Gordon, llingstad began organ studies with Frank Cimmino. At 17 he was performing alongside Cimmino on the 3/17 Wurlitzer theater pipe organ at the Suburbian Restaurant in Wanaque, New Jersey. Ringstad nade his formal concert debut at 18 playing the -J:/33 Moller concert pipe 1rgan at the New York Military Academy in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. )uring this time he also studied low brass with Peter Boor and Barbara ;arrison '70 and played in various chamber and orchestral groups. A 1983 graduate of Ithaca College, Ringstad holds a bachelor of fine Lrts degree in music with an emphasis in art history. His major instrument vas the tuba, and he received extensive training in chamber and orchestral nusic under the guidance of tuba professor Dave Unland. He continued his >rgan studies at Ithaca with Frank Eldridge, George Damp, and Robert >arkins. The variety of Ringstad's experience explains his unique and exciting tpproach to silent movie accompaniment. His film scores have earned critical tcclaim from organists, conductors, and the public. He also credits his suc-:ess in conducting and orchestration to being able to work closely with ~harles Del Rosso and Ithaca professors Steven Baxter, Edward Gobrecht, _,awTence Doebler, Rodney Winther, and Malcolm Lewis. Ringstad has performed musical duties for numerous religious congre-ations over the past 15 years , including St. John the Baptist Cathedral in 'aterson, New Jersey, where he was minister of music and cultural affairs. In ddition, he has performed on many of the major theater pipe organ installa-ons throughout the United States, including those in the Brooklyn aramount Theatre and Radio City Music Hall in New York City; the Senate 'heatre in Detroit; the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, New York; the 'homaston (Connecticut) Opera House; the Trenton (New Jersey) War lemorial; and many other facilities. In 1998 Ringstad produced the tzz/ballroom-dancing show that reopened the 1,600-seat Baker Theatre in lover, New Jersey. Ringstad is currently chief resident organist and theme show producer t the famous Darress Theatre in Boonton, New Jersey-the last remaining reverse entry" theater operating in the United States. The audience enters ·om under the screen and stage. Built in 1919, the theater is composed of oured reinforced concrete. Ringstad affectionately calls it "a bomb shelter rith a stage. " Nonetheless, the Darress Theatre serves as a wonderful venue )r aspiring artists and experimental productions, in addition to classic 10vies. Ringstad is also organist/choir director at Our Lady of Mount Carmel :hurch in Swartswood, New Jersey, and principal ballpark organist for the merican Minor League Somerset Patriots, in Bridgewater, New Jersey. He is big baseball fan. Go Yankees and Patriots! Special thanks to Dave Allen and Paul Smith for their assistance with the video equipment. 

Concert: A Little Night Music: When Movies Were Silent

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Concert: A Little Night Music: When Movies Were Silent

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