Silent film group presents four classic short films

The Connecting Chords Music Festival kicks off a two-month, 10-concert series on Saturday, Oct. 5, with “Live Music for Silent Classics,” at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s Stryker Theater. The band Silent But Deadly made their first public outing at the 2023 festival playing a 12-minute short film, “Frankenstein,” directed by Thomas Edison Co. before a feature-length “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” with score improvised by David Briggs. Band founder Brandon Pacheco, who wrote the music for “Frankenstein” and others, tells Cara Lieurance (a friend and bandmate) about the birthday party that started it all and the three additional short films planned for October 5: “A Christmas Carol,” “Jack and the Beanstock” and an early Chaplin/Arbuckle film called “Tango Tangles.” He also admits his fondness for the cheeky name Silent But Deadly.

Executive Director Betsy Start presents the Connecting Chords Music Festival’s October-November events, and Brandon Pacheco presents the October 5 events (at 10:00 p.m.)

Connecting Chords Executive Director Elizabeth Start previews the upcoming two months of concerts, including guest soloists and ensembles representing traditions from Syria, Bulgaria, America, Uganda and beyond.

Admission to the Silent But Deadly film screenings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. is free. Tickets and more information on other Connecting Chords Music Festival events are available on the festival website.