Ancestral Grooves
A first time fusion of ancient and contemporary music using some of South Africa's oldest traditional musical instruments
Ancestral Grooves, a unique, groundbreaking production featuring the Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra with arrangements by Pops Mahomed, Anthony Caplan, George Gobingca Mxadana,Ross Johnson and Neill Solomon and directed by Laurie Levine, singer-songwriter and author of the book Traditional Music of South Africa opens at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square on 20 May 2008 for a short run.
The Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra became South Africa's first traditional orchestra when it launched in 2003. With Ancestral Grooves, the Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra has set out to rediscover Africa's musical legacy and to explore the many possibilities of fusing ancient and contemporary music, becoming a forerunner of a new sound, both beautiful and uplifting.
Ancestral Grooves combines South Africa's near extinct traditional instruments with an array of Western instruments resulting in an exciting and cutting edge fusion of ancient and modern, organic and electronic, loud and soft. From the ancient sounds of Bushman trance to the grand melodies of classical masterpieces; from the pulsating beats of Venda drums to the intricate rhythms of African and Western jazz standards, Ancestral Grooves presents a rich musical landscape with wide appeal. Uhadi bows, kudu horns, reed pipes, marimbas and mbira's interweave through house beats and the plucked notes of cellos and guitars.
The audience will not only be engaged in an aural experience, they will also be captivated by the visual vibrancy of the ensemble. The exciting repertoire showcases the extraordinary talent of ten young musicians whose energy and passion on stage is contagious, Nkosinathi Makabeni on keyboard, Big Teddi, bass guitarist and vocal soloist and Juliet Qhobosheane, the marimba soloist being a few.
The performers have been guided by a creative collaboration between some of South Africa's leading composers, ethnomusicologists and musicians. George Gobingca Mxadana, conductor of the Imilonji kaNtu Choral Society and one of Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra's directors is the vocal trainer. Other trainers involved in the project include Pops Mahomed, locally and internationally renowned South African virtuoso in the field of indigenous African instruments; Anthony Caplan, an award winning composer, musician and ethnomusicologist; Ross Johnson, of the South Africa's marimba company, AmaAmbush and Neill Solomon, producer, composer and musician.
This production is proudly sponsored by the Drum Cafe and NAC (National Arts Council), with a supporting grant from BASA (Business & Arts South Africa).
Performances at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square run from Tuesday 20 May to Friday 23 May at 8.15 pm, Saturday 24 May at 6 pm and 9 pm. There is also a lunch-hour concert at 12:45pm on Friday 23 May.
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