When a silent film was shown in a theater 100 years ago, it was typical for live music to accompany it. That is still the case today, with some groups composing their own music. The Rats and People Motion Picture Orchestra is one of those groups.
According to Brien Seyle, one of the founding members, the group got its start when their friends who were film students at Webster University asked them to create a score for a silent film festival. At the time they were mostly playing in rock groups, but they composed the score and took off from there.
“Within 2 or 3 years, our rock bands had all collapsed into this fully instrumental project,” Seyle said. “It's just magical. There's no experience like seeing a silent film with live musical accompaniment. It's how the medium was meant to work, and it really, really works.”
The performance is set for 4 p.m. on April 12. Ticket information can be found on the Connect2Culture website.
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