Pastiche
There were numerous occasions where we had to create various kinds of pastiches to make it sound as if the music was made contemporary to the film. Not always easy but very educative and fun. Like in this scene where Greta is playing for the first time against John Gilbert. Romance, romance... a waltz perhaps?
Experiments
However there were also times when we would try to invoke a completely different musical interpretation of a scene. Like this one that I made for some clips from ”Flesh and the devil”. In the end one can hear the sound of crayfish struggling to get out of a tin bucket! Odd combination? I would really think so, but it passed. Always nice to work with a director that allows you a decent amount of leash.