| Go listen to ancient beats |
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| Written by Lucille Davie | |
| Thursday, 22 May 2008 | |
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Ancestral Grooves gives life to almost extinct instruments, bringing the haunting, wild bushveld of Africa to a city stage. 
Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra's Ancestral Grooves is on until Saturday
AT times it felt like I was sitting around a San fireside in the remote bushveld, listening to ancient beats. But I wasn't, I was sitting in the theatre listening to Ancestral Grooves by the Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra. An array of ancient and almost extinct indigenous string and wind instruments, together with modern instruments like guitars, a cello and a saxophone, were combined to make the intimate space of the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square in Sandton pulsate to a unique beat. The indigenous instruments consisted largely of bits of wood, or taut string, with a calabash or the mouth used as a resonator, but the sounds they produced conjured up images of lonely animals crying in the bush, or emotive calls of help to ancestors. Talented musician and composer Pops Mahomed joined the 10-member orchestra on the stage for several numbers, in particular the Kothbiro: Ayub Ogada, which was soulfully haunting. "Nowhere in the world will you find music like this," said Mohamed in the introduction to the song. He used a range of instruments to produce the desired sound: a tall, stand-up guitar, a mouth organ, a rattle, a whistle, and an intriguing-looking miniature harp-like instrument. The orchestra is multi-talented, each member playing several instruments, in addition to singing for the first time since they formed in 2003. But I would have preferred not to hear their two songs - their playing was more interesting, and anyway, they sang as an accompaniment to their playing in most songs. Marimba expert Ross Johnson and composer and arranger Anthony Caplan also joined the orchestra on stage. Johnson's fluid playing of the marimbas made sure there was always a beat to be heard, even while chairman George Mxadana was introducing songs. Johnson helped train the musicians in the marimbas, and Caplan and singer-songwriter Neill Solomon helped arrange some of the numbers. But Johnson plays other instruments too. His penny whistle medley was sufficient to inspire you to get on your feet and dance, with the legendary Spokes Mashiane's Spokes Kwela song. "Kwela" means "get up, get up" - it was tempting but the audience stayed seated. Songwriter Laurie Levine was the director of this production, and she joined the orchestra for several numbers with her guitar, but when she took the mike her song felt out of sync with the rest of the evening. This is the first time the Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra has played these instruments. They should develop this niche market further. Ancestral Grooves is on at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square until Saturday, 24 May. Related stories: |
