Composer, alto clarinetist, and drummer Steven Kamperman has built a remarkable reputation over the past decades as a passionate soloist and composer of electrifying music theater productions. For his latest project, he composed a soundtrack for Lotte Reiniger’s enchanting 1926 film Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed. This silent animated film is not drawn but entirely cut out by hand.

Using the film’s adaptations of the One Thousand and One Nights tales as a guide, Kamperman’s music is inspired by the Middle East, drawing from his extensive experience with Turkish and Arabic makams. Interwoven with the melodic lines are hints of blues and colorful improvisations. His work often has multiple layers and surprising turns. Adventures of Prince Achmed takes the listener on a musically adventurous journey in which the music accompanies the film, while the film, in turn, inspires the music. This time, special guest trumpeter Eric Vloeimans joins to bring an extra dimension, with his soft, whispering tone adding yet another unique layer to the performance.