By Randi Bjornstad

They’re calling it Reel Music, and after last year’s pandemically forced cancellation of the longtime annual festival celebrating American music and movies, needless to say the people at The Shedd Institute for the Arts are really, really happy that the Oregon Festival of American music, aka OFAM, is returning to its stages this summer.

As usual, OFAM presents a number of ways to savor the American movie experience — watching them, listening to their music as performed by local vocalists and instrumental groups, and talking about them with film aficionados.

Here’s how The Shedd introduces the topic of this year’s festival in its news release:

Before there was dialog, there was music. At first, perhaps, most practically, just to cover the awful racket of the projector; but more likely it has always been a psychological and emotional necessity, an essential part of telling the story, of sharing the feeling, of making the images, action and even spoken dialog when it finally came, truly real. REEL MUSIC is our contemplation of that …

The movies — and their music — in question include some that reside on lists of all-time favorite movies, starting with The 39 Steps; Casablanca; Rear Window; and Dr. No, plus Elevator to the Gallows; La Strada; and Some Like It Hot.

In total, OFAM 2021, which runs July 22-31, features screenings of those films plus seven evening and six matinee concerts, with optional pre-concert meals served at noon and 6 p.m. before performances. There’s also a mid-week Jazz Party.

Here’s the rundown:

Oregon Festival of American Music 2021: REEL MUSIC: Sampling the Sound Track

SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 22

  • 9:30 a.m. film — The 39 Steps (1935) with Howard Schuman, film series host; Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — Rendezvous: In Foreign Climes; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 30)
  • 5 p.m. talk — Intro to OFAM 2021, with Shedd executive director Jim Ralph, Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 7:30 p.m.  Setting the Score with festival director Chuck Redd, Jaqua Concert Hall

Friday, July 23

  • 9:30 a.m. film — Casablanca (1942); Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — Some Like it Hot: From Film to Nightclub; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 31
  • 5 p.m. talk — The Music of Casablanca, with Jim Ralph; Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — As Time Goes By: Revisiting Casablanca; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29)

Saturday, July 24

  • 9:30 a.m. film — Rear Window (1954); Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — Elevator to the Gallows: The Sounds of Film Noir; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 29)
  • 5 p.m. talk — The OFAM 2021 Film Series, with Howard Schuman; Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — SpellBound: Hitchcock’s Music; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 31)

Sunday, July 25

4 p.m. — The Jazz Party: ‘Round Midday, with festival director Chuck Redd; cabaret seating in Jaqua Concert Hall

Wednesday, July 28

  • 9:30 a.m. film — Dr. No (1962): Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 1:30 p.m. — Sing-Along: Songs From Film, hosted by Amy Adams; Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 5 p.m. talk — Underscoring Espionage, with Jim Ralph; Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — The Spy Who Loved Me: The Music of Espionage; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 1:30 0.m. on Friday, July 30)

Thursday, July 29

  • 9:30 a.m. film — Elevator to the Gallow (1948); Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — As Time Goes By: Revisiting Casablanca; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 23)
  • 5 p.m. talk — The Sound of Noir, with Jim Ralph; Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — Elevator to the Gallows: The Sounds of Film Noir; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 24)

Friday, July 30

  • 9:30 a.m. film — La Strada (1954); Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — The Spy Who Loved me: The Music of Espionage; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28)
  • 7:30 p.m. concert — Rendezvous: In Foreign Climes; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 22)

Saturday, July 31

  • 9:30 a.m. film — Some Like It Hot (1959); Sheffer Recital Hall; free
  • 1:30 p.m. concert — Spellbound: Hitchcock’s Music; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 24)
  • 7:30 p.m. Grand Finale Concert — Some Like It Hot: From Film to Nightclub; Jaqua Concert Hall (also at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 23)

DETAILS

When: July 22-31, 2021

Where: The Shedd Institute for the Arts, 868 High St. in downtown Eugene

Tickets: $25 to $45 depending on performance, with a variety of student, group, and package discounts; available at the box office  at 868 High St., by telephone at 541-434-7000, or online at theshedd.org/OFAM2021

Pre-Concert Meals: Noon and 6 p.m. before performances, served in The Shedd’s Warren Court. Set menu, reservation only. $23.75 per person; $18.75 for children 9 years and younger. Meals include  tea/coffee, salad, bread, entrée (vegetarian and other dietary needs by prior arrangement), and dessert. Wine, soft drinks, and other beverages are extra. Menus and reservation available by telephone at 541-434-7000 or online at theshedd.org/OFAM2021

PERSONNEL

Directors: Chuck Redd, music director; Siri Vik, guest director; Will & Peter Anderson, guest directors

Musicians:

  • Vocalists — Shirley Andress, Lynnea Barry, Bill Hulings, Michael Stone, Tracy Tooze, Siri Vik
  • Keyboard — Vicki Brabham, Randy Porter
  • Bass — Tyler Abbott, Tom Wakeling (week 1), Nicki Parrot (week 2)
  • Drums — Ken Mastrogiovanni, Chuck Redd (vibes and drums), Paul Wells
  • Guitar — Howard Alden (week 1), Randy Napoleon (week 2), Jack Radsliff
  • Reeds — Jonathan Corona, Pete Anderson, Will Anderson
  • Trumpet — Tim Clarke (week 1), Alexis Garnica, Bruce Harris (week 2)
  • Trombone — Glenn Griffith

INFORMATION AND/OR RESERVATIONS

Telephone: 541-434-7000

Online: theshedd.org/OFAM2021