Frankenstein
Original Score for the 1910 Silent Film “FRANKENSTEIN”, Directed by J.S. Dawley
The musical project for the 1910 silent film Frankenstein was conceived and initiated by Dariusz Dżugan, founder of the Ziębice Mandolin Orchestra – ZiOM Orchestra. His artistic vision was to craft a score that goes beyond merely accompanying the visual narrative, deepening the film’s emotional resonance and imparting new meanings and contexts. The project draws inspiration from the story of Frankenstein—a timeless, deeply moving tale of rejection, solitude, and a desperate longing for acceptance and love.
The concept was born in Ziębice, a town located just a short distance from the historical town of Frankenstein (now Ząbkowice Śląskie). It was there, in 1606, that dramatic events unfolded: eight gravediggers were tried and convicted of spreading a plague using a powder made from human remains. This grim tale echoed across Europe and, according to certain sources, even reached Mary Shelley, author of the iconic novel Frankenstein. This confluence of local history and literary legend lends the project a truly unique dimension.
The 1910 film—the very first cinematic adaptation of the story—is a silent masterpiece that now finds new life through the music of the ZiOM Orchestra.
The culmination of the ensemble’s work is an album recorded at the Polish Radio Studios in Warsaw in 2022. Officially released in 2023 under the Audio Cave record label, the album is available on both CD and vinyl.
frankenstein on vinyl
frankenstein on CD
