Bo’ness, Scotland: Music of film in 1914

Available for over a year

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. “It’s a programme that the British Film Institute put together,” explains Stephen. “It’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? “Audiences start off being aware of the live music, but gradually become less aware,” says Stephen. “As long as the film is good, over time the live accompaniment will become the soundtrack. Quite often people say to me ‘oh, I forgot you were there’ – and I think that’s probably a good thing.” “It’s good though for the music to be heard when it needs to be heard, “ Stephen continues. “ 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? “Hopefully 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