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The MAKABRA ENSEMBLE is the audio-visual collaboration by members of TERMINATRYX (Paul Blom & Sonja Ruppersberg)
violin genius Matthijs Van Dijk, and Simon "Fuzzy" Ratcliffe & Sean Ou Tim (LARK).

Conceived by Paul & Sonja, and born at the annual South African HORRORFEST, this musical force creates new,
original and diverse soundtracks to classic silent horror films, performing it live to the screen.
These have included: The Phantom Of The Opera, Nosferatu, The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari,
Häxan,
and on Halloween 2009, Maciste In Hell. (2010 movie still being selected)

Instrumentation at these shows includes everything from voice, electric guitar, live & programmed drums and percussion, to upright bass,
a variety of flutes and woodwind instrument, electric violin, samples, sound FX, theremin, auto-harp, keyboards etc.

Beyond this, additional special guests are often incorporated and have included the likes of
Francois Blom (V.O.D / K.O.B.U.S. / Die Kruis), The Crackpot Realist, Max Starcke, Lara Block & others.

(see list of extensive info & pix on the various soundtracks below)

THE MAKBRA ENSEMBLE key members:
Centre: Sonja Ruppersberg
Clockwise from top left: Simon Ratcliffe, Paul Blom, Matthijs Van Dijk, Sean Ou Tim


> images by Paul Blom & Sonja Ruppersberg <

THE CONCEPT

In 2005 Paul Blom and Sonja Ruppersberg (key members of the Industrial-Metal band TERMINATRYX) created the annual South African HORRORFEST Film Festival, hosted every Halloween season. From the very first installment they introduced one of the festival highlights: once-off live soundtrack performances to the screening of classic silent horror movies.

As producers of this concept, Paul and Sonja are also an active and integral part in the creation and performance of these live soundtracks via their band TERMINATRYX, collaborating with musical friends, some becoming a fixture at each year’s HORRORFEST.

The live soundtrack movies at the S.A. HORRORFEST (and Oppi Koppi music festival) have included:

The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) - performed in 2005
Nosferatu (1922) - performed in 2006
The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (1920) - performed in 2007
Häxan (1922) - performed in 2008
Maciste In Hell (1925) - performed in 2009
2010 movie choice pending    

In 2009, the HORRORFEST infiltrated the Northern regions of South Africa for the very first time via this live soundtrack performance to NOSFERATU at the OPPI KOPPI music festival (in conjunction with the official launch of the “Terminatryx / Nosferatu” DVD, which contains the full feature film and its new soundtrack - as performed live at the South African HORRORFEST Film Festival, plus Terminatryx music videos, a look at the HorrorFest, photo galleries, a dark short film by Paul Blom & Sonja Ruppersberg > featuring a Terminatryx & F8 soundtrack entitled "imPERFECTION").


THE MUSICIANS

Paul Blom & Sonja Ruppersberg :
Paul & Sonja created TERMINATRYX in 2002 (pronounced: “terminaytrix”) in reaction to the local scene lacking in bands catering to their very specific taste. It led to the birth of a female-fronted, electronically infused blend of Industrial, Metal, and several other alternative styles.

Sonja is on vocals with Paul in charge of music and production. They released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album mid-2008, followed by the “Terminatryx / Nosferatu” DVD, and remixes of the album (2010).

They’ve played across South Africa and at the Popkomm music industry convention in Berlin, Germany, and has opened for international acts like DIARY OF DREAMS, SHEEP ON DRUGS, VNV NATION, and SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK.
Currently they’re working on remixes of the album tracks (which will include remixers like Martin Degville from Sigue Sigue Sputnik (UK), Sheep On Drugs (UK), Industriezone (Austria), Athens Arts Ensemble (Greece), as well as SA acts like Battery 9, NuL, Mr. Sakitumi, Jekyll & Hyde, iRONic, Axxon etc.

For live Terminatryx shows they are accompanied on stage by Patrick Davidson on guitar and Ronnie Belcher on drums (excluding the live soundtrack performances).

Paul & Sonja are the creators of the South African HORRORFEST-, X FEST-, and CELLUDROID Film Festivals.
Under FLAMEDROP PRODUCTIONS they run these film festivals, produce their own music, short films & music videos, and created & compiled the historic KOPSKOOT! heavy Afrikaans compilation album.

Paul is also a member of South African Metal Godfathers VOICE OF DESTRUCTION (V.O.D) since the late-‘80s, has a solo project entitled F8, and played for K.O.B.U.S. until early 2008.

At the HORRORFEST soundtrack performances Paul and Sonja utilize voices with effects, bass guitar, electric guitar, live drums, beats and keyboards.


Matthijs Van Dijk :
Born into a musical family, Matthijs is a former violin pupil of Jack de Wet and Farida Bacharova. He is an active chamber and orchestral musician, composer and arranger, and completed a B-Mus in Composition at UCT.

As a violinist, he has been involved in numerous chamber ensembles, as well an ad hoc player with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.

Matthijs started composing when he was nine and to date has written 6 string quartets, 2 piano trios, a violin sonata, a symphonic song-cycle, several orchestral overtures and numerous smaller chamber works.

In 2005 Matthijs was nominated for a Kanna Award for his work with Karen Zoid at the KKNK.
In 2006 he orchestrated Phillip Miller’s score for the Philip Noyce film “Catch a Fire” and was also the recipient of the prestigious SAMRO Overseas Scholarship for Composition.
In 2008 the violin and harp duo Clockwise commissioned "Though The Cherry Trees Don’t Blossom…" as part of their national tour of South Africa and performances in the United States.
From 2002 till 2007, Matthijs was the vocalist/guitarist/violinist and songwriter for the Cape Town based rock band DAWN TREADER, releasing an EP in 2007.
Since 2005 he has been involved with soundtrack collaborations at the S.A. HORRORFEST.

Matthijs’ weapon of choice for the live soundtrack performances is an electric violin with multi-effects.


Simon “Fuzzy” Ratcliffe :
Fuzzy began his musical journey playing jazz and swing trumpet, ultimately moving onto various other wind instruments, such as flute and sax, where he's always been his most comfortable. While he's played bass for a while he first started playing upright bass with Capetonian Trip-Hop pioneers 1931 Raygun and has since moved on to various Eastern and World instruments, such as the Armenian Duduk, and Indian Bansuri. Over the years he's played as a session and studio musician, and been involved in various theatre productions.

A sound engineer by profession and owner of Sound & Motion Studios, Fuzzy is probably best known as bassist and wind instrumentalist for groundbreaking electro group LARK.

With almost 15 years in the sound industry behind him, he's worked in various capacities on projects for the likes of Dirty Skirts, Shy Gyevaras, Terminatryx, Fetish, Springbok Nude Girls, Hog Hoggidy Hog, Muse String Quartet, as well as international acts such as Kanye West, INXS, UB40, Steven Spielberg's “Dreamworks” and the BBC. His engineering skills have garnered him wins and nominations in the SAMA, Vita, Loerie & more.

Fuzzy as been with Horrorfest since 2006, and his only regret is that he missed the first one!

The instruments he utilizes for the horror soundtrack performances include: upright bass, bass guitar, flutes and woodwinds, programming, FX and theremin.


Sean Ou Tim :
Sean is a classically trained pianist (starting at the age of 8). He moved on to guitar and bass, and then drums.
He played in various bands incl.: URBAN CREEP, BATTERY 9, GODESSA, MAX NORMAL, LARK, CLOSET SNARE, ANDY LUND & THE MISSION MEN.
He currently performs live electronic beats as MR. SAKITUMI, using live sampling, FX, turntable scratching and bass guitar.

Sean plays live drums and uses samples for the HORRORFEST soundtrack performances.
2009 was Sean’s 4th year involved with the HORRORFEST soundtracks, and he’s lost count of all the Oppi Koppi’s he’s played!


TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU
DVD

(See 2006 chapter further down for more info on this performance)
The TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU DVD contains the 1922 silent vampire classic with a new original
soundtrack as performed live at the 2006 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival screening, by
TERMINATRYX and very special guests. Additional material includes music videos,
photo galleries, a short film and more.
The DVD cover is interchangeable to feature either TERMINATRYX or NOSFERATU
.
(All of these live soundtracks have planned DVD releases)

CLICK HERE
for detailed info on this DVD


order this DVD on-line at:
www.ONEWORLD.co.za





L I V E - S O U N D T R A C K - P E R F O R M A N C E S
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all HORRORFEST posters designed by Paul Blom
© Flamedrop Productions

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The right movie for the 2010 MAKABRA ENSEMBLE live soundtrack performance at the
Halloween-season HORRORFEST is being selected.
The Oppi Koppi music festival organizers are also interested in another live soundtrack
for its 2010 event. Updates will follow once all is confirmed.


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Where traditionally there is only a single MAKABRA ENSEMBLE soundtrack performance of a different movie each year, 2009 saw no less than 3 shows. These included the performance of the NOSFERATU soundtrack at Soith Africa's biggest music festival, Oppi Koppi (in August), the first performance of MACISTE IN HELL at the South African HORRORFEST over Halloween (October), and an encore performance of MACISTE at Sound & Motion Studios (December).

(This poster design painted by Vernon Swart from a photo of Sonja taken by Dr-Benway)

MACISTE IN HELL
(Maciste all'Inferno)
Live Soundtrack Performance at the
2009 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival

31 October (Halloween Night), 9pm @ The Labia Theatre, Orange Street, Cape Town, ZA

by TERMINATRYX, members of LARK & special guests

The 5th annual HORRORFEST live soundtrack performance was for the 1925 Italian infernal epic,
MACISTE IN HELL (Maciste all'inferno).
A brave man is tricked and trapped in Hell, where his virtue and strength persists, but he teaches the demons a lesson they'll never forget.



Members of Terminatryx and Lark (now accumulatively known as THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE) were joined by special guests Max Starcke (on sax and guitar) and Lara Block (on cello) to perform this rare, single show of an eclectic, moody and exciting new original soundtrack, below the silver screen.


This Halloween-night spectacular also featured the festival's dress-up evening with various prizes
> viewers photographed by Ronnie Belcher <

Live sound supplied by HELLFIRE / Live recording by SOUND & MOTION Studios

www.HORRORFEST.info - www.HellFire.co.za - www.SoundAndMotion.co.za



Post-show full moon


MACISTE IN HELL
White Room Session Encore Performance - 13 December '09

The final live show for 2009 by TERMINATRYX was as THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE
performing an encore show of the MACISTE IN HELL live soundtrack
at SOUND & MOTION STUDIOS on Sunday 13 December 2009
together with Simon, Sean, Max and Lara.
Limited seats at this White Room session was by invitation only.


TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU
Live Movie Soundtrack Performance @ OPPI KOPPI - 8 August '09

> images by Paul Blom & Ryan Skully Demoser <


FLAMEDROP PRODUCTIONS and the South African HORRORFEST present :
the NOSFERATU live soundtrack performance at The OPPI KOPPI Music Festival (7-9 August 2009).

TERMINATRYX and special musical guests from LARK and DAWN TREADER added a new dimension to the Oppi Koppi music festival when performing their original soundtrack to the screening of the classic 1922 silent vampire film NOSFERATU, (in conjunction with the countrywide DVD release “TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU”, containing the full feature film and its new soundtrack, as performed live at the South African HORRORFEST Film Festival).

The musicians partaking in this unique audio-visual experience: Paul Blom, Sonja Ruppersberg, Simon "Fuzzy" Ratcliffe, Sean Ou Tim and Matthijs Van Dijk.
(Francois Blom from V.O.D and K.O.B.U.S. took part in the original 2006 performance of this soundtrack).

This was only be the second time ever this soundtrack is to be performed live to this legendary movie’s screening, and is an unforgettable and unique audio-visual experience as the innovative original soundtrack breathes new life into the enthralling visuals with a blend of voice, bass guitars, samples, electric guitars, electric violin, beats, electronics, drums, woodwind instruments, flutes and more.

This version of the live NOSFERATU soundtrack will contain most of the original audio creations, but there will definitely be fresh inclusions.

German director F.W. Murnau's NOSFERATU was released in 1922, based on Dracula (Bram Stoker's legendary tale of vampires and undying love). With an amazing grasp of this new technology at the time, Murnau created a timeless motion picture still as vivid and visually enticing as it was on its release over 8 decades ago.
 



Venue :
Oppi Koppi Farm, Northam, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Date : Saturday 8 August 2009
Time : 10:20pm on the Levi's Stage (see website for any changes)
Festival Info : http://www.OppiKoppi.co.za
Tickets : http://www.tunegum.co.za



Sean & Simon on board

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106214952285
Order the “TERMINATRYX / NOSFERATU” DVD on-line at: www.OneWorld.co.za
South African HORRORFEST: http://www.HORRORFEST.info



It was the first time a concept like this was introduced in the decade+ existence of the
prestigious Oppi Koppi music festival.
The big screen was beside the stage, doubling the viewing area of both the live musicians and the movie.
 

It was expected that it would be difficult securing and keeping an audience at a huge weekend rock festival with several stages (and a lot of alcohol), and had foreseen those who came to investigate to disperse halfway through the 70 minute performance, featuring many dark and slow moods between the diverse audio eruptions.



But, the huge crowd assembling for this Nosferatu soundtrack spectacle were enthralled, nailed to both the screen and the musicians performing beside it, as they were spread across a wide area of this bushveld setting, from left to right, and up into the tree covered hill, none leaving until the very end.
The movie was preceded by the debut screening of the TERMINATRYX "Siek+Sat" music video
rough cut.






Pre-show magazine interview with Paul & Sonja


OPPI KOPPI / NOSFERATU REHEARSALS - 2009
@ Sound & Motion Studios, Cape Town

> images by Ronnie Belcher <



It had been around 3 years since The Makabra Ensemble had performed the Nosferatu soundtrack
at the 2006 HorrorFest Film Festival, so rehearsals were advised.
This happened a few weeks before the Oppi Koppi performance in the screening room
of Simon Ratcliffe's Sound & Motion Studios, Harrington Street, Cape Town.







































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HÄXAN
(aka HEKSEN / THE WITCH)
Live Soundtrack Performance at the
2008 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival
by TERMINATRYX, members of LARK & special guests

This superb 1922 silent classic directed by Benjamin Christensen was chosen for the 2007 HORRORFEST live soundtrack performance.

With the popularity of these performances outgrowing the size of the theatre,
2008 saw two consecutive shows for Häxan on Halloween night
(as too many disappointed viewers had to be turned away previously when it sold out).




Häxan was decades ahead of its time, and so amazingly executed, from the cinematography, to the special effects. With a blend of dramatization, historic artwork and documentary-style depiction, Christensen delved into the phenomenon of witchcraft with the bold depiction of rituals, the satanic Sabbat, inquisition & torture, possessed nuns, and the general misconceptions that led to the murder of millions of innocent people falsely accused of practicing witchcraft. This movie pretty much ruined Christensen’s career as the world wasn’t ready for such daring filmmaking.

> images by Robin Ogden & Paul Blom <


L-R: Matthijs Van Dijk,
Sonja Ruppersberg, Paul Blom, , Simon Ratcliffe, Sean Ou Tim

Paul & Sonja from TERMINATRYX was joined by recurring collaborators Simon & Sean (LARK) and violin maestro Matthijs Van Dijk, performing the new, eclectic soundtrack live to the screen.
The language of choice for Sonja's vocals were Latin, and this time round both Paul and Sean utilized acoustic drums for certain parts, sometimes playing in tandem.
As with each year, this Halloween night (31 October) the audience was encouraged to arrive dressed for the occasion – with prizes for those making the most effort.






This Halloween at the HORRORFEST also saw the Cape Town launch of the TERMINATRYX DVD which includes the legendary silent vampire movie NOSFERATU (with its new musical soundtrack as performed by at the 2006 HORRORFEST).




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THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI
(Das Cabinet Des Dr. Caligari)
Live Soundtrack Performance at the
2007 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival
by TERMINATRYX, members of LARK & special guests



On Halloween night, Robert Wiene’s legendary German film THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1919) loomed on the screen to a live soundtrack created by members of TERMINATRYX and LARK.
They were joined by
guest artists THE CRACKPOT REALIST, Ishaan and Ella.

> images by Henri-Jacques Blom, Robin Ogden & Paul Blom <



The expressionistic film follows the tale of a magician at a fair who has a somnambulist (sleepwalker), who can predict the future. When a man asks when he’ll die, the prediction is, “by dawn” – and it happens! This leads to further mayhem and panic. With an incredibly effective and graphic angular expressionistic style in the set design, this piece of cinema history is still something to behold – and here further enhanced with the new live soundtrack. (The language chosen for Sonja's vocals were German).



L-R: (special guest) The Crackpot Realist, Sean Ou Tim, Simon Ratcliffe, Sonja Ruppersberg, Paul Blom

Caligari Review by Something Wicked Magazine Editor Joe Vaz - Saturday, November 17, 2007:

Having missed last year's HORRORFEST Finale of Terminatryx and Lark's original, live soundtrack to Nosferatu, I made damn sure I didn't miss this year's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. I'd only ever seen snippets of the film on YouTube and, like all 70+ year old black and white silent movies it looks cheesy, corny and quite silly. But all that changed on the 31st of Oct 2007. Watching a classic like Caligari in a darkened theatre with a live 21st Century soundtrack suddenly brings back the scale of this picture.

What a fucking masterpiece - instead of giggling at the screen I found myself suddenly entranced. Hanging on every (written) word. The score, composed and performed by Paul and Sonja from Terminatryx, Sean and Fuzzy from Lark, and The Crackpot Realist was beautifully pieced together, altogether haunting and kick-ass with a combination of acoustic and electronic sounds with vocal contortions supplied by Sonja and one of The Crackpot Realist's collaborators. What they manage to achieve is to completely revitalize this classic.

For the first time I found myself completely enthralled by a silent movie - marveling at the stylistic approach to the film making, finding the obvious inspirations of such great genre directors as Tim Burton and Sam Raimi.
With their soundtrack they managed to make the classic breathe again, resurrecting it for a new generation of film-makers to marvel at the magic of silver screen.
I can't wait for next year's!


Sonja Ruppersberg outside Cape Town's legendary Labia Theatre,
home of the annual South African HORRORFEST International Film Festival



Formalities & introductions
Paul & Sean



Sonja below the screen waiting for the projector to roll
(Blood-Cross necklace from www.Plastic-Bat.co.za)



Sean & his popcorn



The show begins...



"Fuzzy"


The Crackpot Realist (middle) & his additional collaborators Ishaan & Ella



The misty morning after the performance




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NOSFERATU
Live Soundtrack Performance at the
2006 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival
by TERMINATRYX, Matthijs Van Dij
k, and members of LARK, K.O.B.U.S./V.O.D

The first performance of the new, original soundtrack to the screening of the 1922 vampire classic
NOSFERATU by Sonja & Paul (from TERMINATRYX), Simon & Sean (from LARK),
Francois (from V.O.D and K.O.B.U.S) and Matthijs Van Dijk, happened on the dawn of Halloween night,
30 October 2006 at the 2nd annual South African HORRORFEST Film Festival -
hosted at the Labia independent theatre.

> image by Paul Blom <


German director F.W. Murnau's NOSFERATU was released in 1922, based on Dracula (Bram Stoker's legendary tale of
vampires and undying love). With an amazing grasp of this new technology at the time, Murnau created a timeless motion picture
still as vivid and visually enticing as it was on its release over 85 years ago.
Now, this classic silent movie is resurrected with a new, diverse soundtrack performed live to the screen by Terminatryx
and special guests from Lark and Dawn Treader. Also available on DVD.
click here for secure on-line orders

The wide range of visually enthralling scenes were given a diverse set of moods and emotion with the combination of instruments including:
upright bass, electic guitar, electric bass, sampled percussion, programming, electric violin,
keyboards, flutes & woodwind instruments, FX, theremin and vocals in Romanian.
Extra seats had to be brought into the sold out venue.
www.HORRORFEST.info




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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Live Soundtrack Performance at the
2005 debut South African HORRORFEST Film Festival
by Matthijs Van Dijk & his string quintet

The live movie soundtrack concept produced by Paul Blom and Sonja Ruppersberg
kick-started with the very first South African HORROR FEST
(conceived in 2003/2004, and) hosted in 2005.
The festival's alternate title is The HORROR FESTACULAR.



The movie selected for this debut event was the amazing PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the chosen composer
becoming one of the MAKABRA ENSEMBLE's key members, violin player Matthijs Van Dijk, who
wrote an epic soundtrack for string quintet (whilst still studying music at UCT)

> image by Paul Blom <










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