Rebirth of a Nation

In 2004, artist-composer Paul Miller, a.k.a. DJ Spooky, re-edited director D.W. Griffith's racially problematic 1915 silent film as Rebirth of a Nation. As you'd expect, contrasts abound on its recorded score. Heavy drums and bass clash with excitable strings on "The Next Election," back-porch harmonica slashes through "A Nation Divided," and modern classicists Kronos Quartet play the blues on "Gus, Elsie, Silas and the Klan." There's even a nod to Griffith's original Wagner score in the driving "Ride of the Klansmen."