Little Sparta @ Edinburgh Art Festival 2009

At The Grey Gallery as part of EAF 2009 Little Sparta perform their unique score to Lotte Reinigers legendary and mesmerising The Adventures of Prince Achmed. This pioneering film, made in 1926, is the worlds oldest animated feature and uses the silhouette animation technique invented by Reiniger to create a magical world of filigree backgrounds and intricately jointed figures. The story of Prince Achmed and his magical horse is taken from The Arabian Nights.

The music performed here is not intended as a narrative score to the film but is meant as an empathetic response by the band to the visual experience.

Little Sparta are guitarist Alan Boyd of the Gruesomes and St Just Vigilantes, violinist Susie Honeyman of the Mekons and accompanist to the late Vivian Stanshall, and the Glaswegian drummer Scott Skinner. The band are based in London and have released several records working with singers and poets including the Glaswegian ranter Gerry Mitchell. Little Sparta and Sally Timms was released by Grey Gallery Records in 2008.

www.edinburghartfestival.com
www.littlesparta.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Little Sparta
• prince Achmed
• edinburgh Art Festival
• animation
• shadow puppets
• bands
• scottish folk scene