A Night of Live Music and Silent Cinema – Feb 2024, Genesis Cinema

On Friday 16 February, the Hapax Orchestra accompanied a series of silent films from the early 20th century at the Genesis Cinema, East London. Over 200 people attended the event near Mile End, compered by Deac Rossell, a film programmer and non-fiction writer.  I shared the trumpet pad with fellow trumpet player, Arthur Elletson.

This performance was great fun to me. I have been interested in the films of George Méliès after first reading ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabaret’ by Brian Selznick.  It was great to bring together early cinema and contemporary composition.

We performed the following works (titles based on the silent film)

• Aron Sood – Moonland (1926)

• Pierre Catherine-Buffet – A Trip to Jupiter (1909)

• Rosie Brighton – Cartoon Factory (1924)

• Therence Guillerme – The Invisible Thief (1909)

• Dimitri Chrysostomou - Dream of a Rarebit Fiend (1906)

The event was a huge success. I’m hoping that more of these events can be organised in the future.  Thanks to Dimitri Chrysostomou for organising and inviting me to participate.