Boere Music

Boeremusiek is a type of South African instrumental folk music. Its original intent was to be an accompaniment to social dancing at parties and festivals.
Boeremusiek is originally European, but once it was brought to South Africa, it gradually changed and became its own style.A concertina is similar to an accordion and is the lead instrument in most Boeremusiek bands. There are many different types of concertinas, which is why Boeremusiek has so many unique sounds and styles, and the construction the concertina is what makes the different sounds in the Boeremusiek band; it depends on where the slots and holes are put makes the difference on the sound that the concertina makes.Other instruments that might be in a Boeremusiek band would be piano accordions, button harmonicas, accordions, pianos, harmoniums and the guitar, and sometimes, a cello or bass guitar may be seen.
The sound of a Boeremusiek band may depend on what region the band is from, seeing that Boermusiek’s intent is to be informal, instrumental dance music. Today, there are many successful Boeremusiek bands that have recorded albums. Some famous bands and individual artists today include Klipwerf Boereorkes, Danie Grey, Nico Carstens, Taffie Kikkilus, Brian Nieuwoudt, Samuel Petzer, Worsie Visser and Die Ghitaar Man

 What is boermusic?

This is a question that has experts pondering for years and can not be answered without a measure of controversy. In short we, The Traditional Boer Music Club, can define Boermusic as instrumental folk music, dating from the period during which the people who practiced it where internationally know as "Die Boere" (The Boers) of South Africa. It is informal music that is played in a distinctive way and was primarily intended as accompaniment for social dancing. For the purpose of this conversation we exclude other kinds of Afrikaans music from the same period like ballads, serenades and music aimed at passive audiences.

What is the Character of Boermusic?

It is nearly impossible to put the rich variety of feeling elements, nuances and sounds that form the essence of Boermusic into words. It is an "experience" of strong and unique character that can not be described in music science terms. The concertina was, and is still to this day, the top lead instrument in Boermusic. Apart from the different types of concertinas that are found in Boer music, there are different dance rhythms and variations in accompaniment. It is striking how each artist often develops a unique and recognizable style. Just as amazing is how the different types of concertinas as well as the different geographical regions created divergent disciplines within Boermusic.
What are the origins of Boermusic?

The origins of Boermusic is like a vine with entangled roots and the development has to be distilled from history and myth. The earliest writings contained no reference to the term "Boermusic" or "Boere orkes" (Boermusic band). It is therefor necessary to search for clues that point to the music in question as light, cheerful, informal and indigenous dance music and not formal or classical music. For that we have to follow references to music-, dance- and song habits during the course of history to determine the inception of Boermusic and how it developed.

Boermusic is largely European in origin and it would be a misconception to think that it was brought to South Africa by the early settlers. Most of it was imported fairly recently but aquired a flavour of its own and remained in vogue here long after it went out of fashion abroad.
How did it get to South Africa?

Whenever a certain dance became popular in Europe or anywhere else, it was not long before it was introduced in the Cape by military bands of the British Empire. Whenever they were off duty, they hired themelves out for parties, weddings and other social events. There where dance masters who taught the new dances to the locals and from there it spread into the hinterland. It acquired a local flavour and character of it's own in the process. A large volume of Boermusic was consequently composed by local musicans, as is still the case today.

There where also music teachers who noted down local tunes. The first person to do this was Charles Etienne Boniface (1787-1853) who arrived in the Cape in February 1807

 

[Bron: Die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van Boeremusiek - W.A. Schultz]

 Die term boeredans word in hierdie verband gebruik as 'n kollektiewe term omdat dit die kenmerkende dansvorms behels wat aan die betrokke boeremusiekwysies gekoppel word. lnderwaarheid kom al hierdie danse, behalwe die vastrap, vanaf oorsee. Maar al het die danse oorsee ontstaan, het hulle hier ingeburger geraak en 'n besondere karakter aangeneem as gevolg van die kenmerkende eienskappe van boeremusiek.

Die danse wat in Europa se balsale gewild geraak het, het stadig versprei en Engeland die laaste bereik. Daarvandaan het dit betreklik gou na Amerika en Suid-Afrika versprei. In Engeland het verskeie groot danssale gedurende die 18de eeu tot stand gekom, waarvan Almack's die bekendste was. Dit sal interessant wees om te let op die danse wat teen die middel van die 19de eeu in Engeland se balsale gedans was, want dit sal ongetwyfeld 'n weerspieëling vind in die danse wat in Kaapstad gewild was.
Die vernaamste danse in hierdie genre is die wals, polka, seties en masurka, maar daar is 'n ander "indringer", waarvan die ouers onbekend is, en wat in die omgangstaal die vastrap genoem word.