Matthijs, Paul, Sonja, Sean, Simon
Pic by Ronnie Belcher
CREATING NEW ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS FOR
CLASSIC SILENT FILMS FOR OVER A DECADE !
WHAT IS THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE?
For over dozen years THE MAKABRA
ENSEMBLE has been creating new scores for classic silent films, performing these live to the screen.
The group
is a musical
collaboration
by members
of TERMINATRYX, V.O.D, ISOBEL and F8 (Paul &
Sonja),
LARK & MR. SAKITUMI (Simon &
Sean), and violin
genius Matthijs
Van Dijk (The Shh...Art Ensemble, Dawntreader).
Conceived by Paul & Sonja in 2005, and born at the annual South
African
HORRORFEST,
this musical
force
creates
new, original
and diverse
soundtracks
to classic
silent
films, performing
it live
to the screen.
These have
included:
Nosferatu
The
Cabinet
Of Dr. Caligari
Häxan
Maciste
In Hell
The Phantom Of The Opera
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Metropolis
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Faust
Vampyr
Frankenstein (short)
Beyond this,
special
guests are
occasionally incorporated
and have
included
the likes
of
Francois
Blom (V.O.D
/ K.O.B.U.S.
/ Die Kruis),
The Crackpot
Realist,
Ronnie Belcher, Max Starcke,
Lara Block
& others.
The instruments utilized at these live performances include voice, electric guitars & bass, drums & percussion,
violin, keyboards,
upright bass, various wind instruments, programming, theremin and more.
Scroll down for all the details or jump to the section of your choice by clicking the links below
Metropolis (2012) |
Hunchback Of Notre Dame (2013) |
Dr. Caligari (2014) |
Faust (2015) |
Vampyr (2016) |
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Metropolis (2017) |
Maciste In Hell (2018) |
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N E W S / / / S H O W S
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MACISTE IN HELL
at the 14th annual South African HORRORFEST
Saturday 27 October, 9pm,
Labia Theatre (68 Orange Street, Cape Town)
BOOK HERE
The TERMINATRYX-driven MAKABRA ENSEMBLE is a project creating new soundtracks
to classic silent films, performed live to the screen.
For over 12 years the band has collaborated with the group's invaluable and talented co-members,
incl. Matthijs Van Dijk, Sean Ou Tim and Simon Ratcliffe.
The 1925 Italian movie MACISTE IN HELL has a virtuous man tricked and sent to hell,
where he kicks some ass!
Don't miss this exciting evening which is also the HorrorFest's Halloween dress-up night.
BOOK HERE
Like the Makabra Ensemble Facebook Page
Like the HorrorFest Facebook Pag
2 0 1 7
METROPOLIS
Saturday 28 October 2017 at the South African Horrorfest
9:30pm, Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
To celebrate its 90th anniversary, The Makabra Ensemble will perform their original soundtrack for Fritz Lang's masterpiece
METROPOLIS
(1927)
One show only!
To avoid disappointment, book at: https://goo.gl/mcpiV9
rsvp & more info at the Facebook event page:www.facebook.com/events/744001662474755
In this incredible futuristic vision (of 1927), the vast city of Metropolis has the suffering working class live, work and struggle
underground, while the privileged bask high up in their towers. But the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a
working class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences (but it won't come without chaos and destruction!)
With fantastic sets and amazing cinematography, this film was decades ahead of its time, still resonating today - here on
28 October enhanced with a live original soundtrack at the South African HorrorFest.
Resident Makabra members Sonja Ruppersberg, Simon Ratcliffe, Matthijs Van Dijk , Sean Ou Tim and Paul Andre Blom will be joined by special guest Ronnie Belcher (of The Damned Crows & Terminatryx)
This will be in conjunction with the well-established HorrorFest Halloween dress-up event, prizes of which will include
R6,000 worth of tattoo prizes from Mr Lucky Tattoos, Cape Town.
All updates at:
www.facebook.com/ SouthAfricanHorrorfest
and
www.facebook.com/ MakabraEnsemble
www.horrorfest.info
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VAMPYR
Saturday 29 October 2016 at the South African Horrorfest
8:45pm, Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
This year's live soundtrack performance by The Makabra Ensemble will be for the amazing 1932 French-German classic VAMPYR.
One show only!
To avoid disappointment, book at: http://qkt.io/8D6Zf1
Resident Makabra members Sonja Ruppersberg, Simon Ratcliffe, Matthijs Van Dijk and Paul Andre Blom will be joined by special guest musicians Ronnie Belcher (of The Damned Crows & Terminatryx) and Nerine Dorman (Isobel - formerly A Murder) ).
This will also be the customary HorrorFest Halloween dress-up event and the HorrorFest market will be outside the theatre from noon until 9pm.
All updates at:
www.facebook.com/ SouthAfricanHorrorfest
www.horrorfest.info
2 0 1 5
FAUST
Friday 30 October 2015 at the South African Horrorfest
8:45pm, Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
The Makabra Ensemble will be their new soundtrack for FAUST (by Nosferatu director F.W. Murnau).
This amazing and tragic 1926 film takes Goethe's tale of a man tempted by the demon Mephisto to sell his soul for youth,
and turns it into a historic visual accomplishment (further enhanced by this brand new soundtrack).
Book now to avoid disappointment.
The evening will coincide with the Halloween dress-up competition and night market.
2 0 1 4
THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI
The 2014 MAKABRA ENSEMBLE silent movie live soundtrack performance will be for the legendary
German Expressionist film THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI.
1 show only on Halloween night at the South African HORRORFEST
Book at Quicket
Live sound by Point Blanc
2 0 1 3
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
8:30pm, Wednesday 6 November 2013
@ the 2013 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival
(Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Str, Cape Town)
The Makabra Ensemble returns to the event that gave birth to it, the South African HORRORFEST.
For this 9th edition of the event, The Makabra Ensemble will perform their 8th silent film score adaptation.
Based on the writing of Victor Hugo, in 15th century France, a gypsy girl is framed for murder by the infatuated Chief Justice,
and only the deformed bellringer of Notre Dame Cathedral can save her.
One show only
Booking essential
For more info on the HorrorFest line-up & activities: www.HORRORFEST.info
Live sound by Point Blanc
H Ä X A N
(aka HEKSEN / THE WITCH)
9:00pm, Saturday 28 April 2013
@ the 2013 Sound On Screen Music Film Festival
(Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Str, Cape Town)
The Makabra Ensemble first performed this amazing movie's new soundtrack in 2008, so it's time it gets resurrected!
One show only.
Live sound by Point Blanc
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, director 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.
Tickets: R50 each - Booking essential. Call 021 424 5927 / On-line booking activated soon at Quicket.co.za
2 0 1 2
N O S F E R A T U
8:15pm, Wednesday 31 October 2012
@ The South African HorrorFest
Halloween Night, Labia Theatre
(Orange Str, Cape Town)
The great-grandfather of vampire movies, F.W. Murnau's timeless 1922 classic NOSFERATU has its 90th anniversary this year! And what better way to celebrate it than with a Makabra Ensemble live performance? Catch it on Halloween night at the 8th annual South African HORRORFEST. www.horrorfest.info This is also the Halloween dress-up night of the event with killer prizes. Order the Nosferatu DVD here |
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M E T R O P O L I S
9pm, Saturday 30 June 2012
@ Celludroid Sci-Fi / Anime / Fantasy Film Festival
Labia Theatre
(Orange Str, Cape Town)
The Makabra Ensemble will debut its new soundtrack to the screening of Fritz Lang's legendary
METROPOLIS at
Celludroid Mach III, the 3rd annual Sci-Fi / Anime / Fantasy Film Festival (29 June - 5 July).
This performance at Celludroid will happen Saturday 30 June, 9pm @ The Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town To book, call 021 424 5927 Event site: www.CELLUDROID.net Celludroid Facebook Event Page Live sound provided by Point Blanc Event Tech Solution |
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M E T R O P O L I S
8pm, Tuesday 18 September 2012
@ Sound & Motion Studios' Creative Week
(Harrington Str, Cape Town)
German director Fritz Lang's ground-breaking Sci-Fi epic METROPOLIS (1924) had its Makabra Ensemble live soundtrack debut at the 2012 Celludroid Film Festival in June. |
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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 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.
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 - recorded live at the South African HORRORFEST Film Festival (2006), 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").
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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 members of
TERMINATRYX
and very
special
guests. (This was before the project got the Makabra Ensemble title).
Additional
material
includes
music videos,
photo galleries,
a short
film and
more.
The DVD
cover is
interchangable
to feature
either TERMINATRYX
or NOSFERATU
order
the 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
2 0 1 3 - 2 0 0 5
all HORRORFEST & CELLUDROID posters designed by Paul Blom
(except 2010 with Dr-Benway & 2009 painted by Vernon Swart)
© Flamedrop Productions
2 0 0 9
2 0 0 8
2 0 0 7
2 0 0 6 NOSFERATU Live Soundtrack Performance at the 2006 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival by TERMINATRYX, Matthijs Van Dijk, 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. (This was also performed at the Oppi Koppi music film festival on 8 August 2009) www.HORRORFEST.info > 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 2 0 0 5 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 < |