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Bo’ness, Scotland: Music of film in 1914

EH51 0AA - Silent film accompanist Stephen Horne talks about providing the music for a night of 1914-style cinema entertainment.

EH51 0AA

Bo’ness Hippodrome plays host to an annual festival of silent cinema every spring – but in November 2014, it also staged a special evening of 1914 style cinema entertainment.

Accompanying an evening of American serials, travelogues, and newsreels was silent film musician and composer Stephen Horne.

β€œIt’s a programme that the British Film Institute put together,” explains Stephen. β€œIt’s a recreation of the sort of things you would have seen in a British cinema in 1914.”

How do audiences feel about Stephen’s live accompaniment?

β€œAudiences start off being aware of the live music, but gradually become less aware,” says Stephen. β€œAs long as the film is good, over time the live accompaniment will become the soundtrack. Quite often people say to me β€˜oh, I forgot you were there’ – and I think that’s probably a good thing.”

β€œIt’s good though for the music to be heard when it needs to be heard, β€œ Stephen continues. β€œ A film like Metropolis for example you’ve goty to bring out the fireworks for a film like that – and I think it’s good for audiences to be aware of musical fireworks.”

What does he hope the audience will take away from the night?

β€œHopefully the audience will take away from tonight a greater historical understanding of the kind of things that would have been seen at that time – and also come away feeling they’ve been to see a good show.”

Image Copyright Eoin Carey Photography, courtesy of Falkirk Community Trust

3 minutes

This clip is from

World War One At ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Related Links

  • (www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org)
  • (www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org)
  • (earlycinema.gla.ac.uk)

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