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Bo鈥檔ess Hippodrome plays host to an annual festival of silent cinema every spring 鈥� 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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a programme that the British Film Institute put together,鈥� explains Stephen. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a recreation of the sort of things you would have seen in a British cinema in 1914.鈥�

How do audiences feel about Stephen鈥檚 live accompaniment?

鈥淎udiences start off being aware of the live music, but gradually become less aware,鈥� says Stephen. 鈥淎s long as the film is good, over time the live accompaniment will become the soundtrack. Quite often people say to me 鈥榦h, I forgot you were there鈥� 鈥� and I think that鈥檚 probably a good thing.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 good though for the music to be heard when it needs to be heard, 鈥� Stephen continues. 鈥� A film like Metropolis for example you鈥檝e goty to bring out the fireworks for a film like that 鈥� and I think it鈥檚 good for audiences to be aware of musical fireworks.鈥�

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

鈥淗opefully the audience will take away from tonight a greater historical understanding of the kind of things that would have been seen at that time 鈥� and also come away feeling they鈥檝e been to see a good show.鈥�

Image Copyright Eoin Carey Photography, courtesy of Falkirk Community Trust

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