Hello.

I became interested in boeremusiek but beside the 14-or-so Youtube films, the entry in Wikipedia and the site www.boeremusiek.org.za I didn't find any information. Is it possible (and how) to learn more about it, e. g. melodies, styles, dances, sheet music, and -- most important -- to practice it (not living in South-Africa)?

Mersí,

Seb.

Seb there are two examples of Boer Music on Anglo International,there are other recordings available at The British Museum sound archives.There are a couple of records about this subject (one French) but I am not sure where you would find a copy.
Al

Sebastian,

Welcome to the world of boer music. There are certian designations used by boer music players to differentiate what type of style of music and tempo is to be used during a song or dance such as "setees" (a Scottish style of music), "vastrap" faster paced music, mazurkas, polkas, waltzes. There is also the old fashioned traditional music and then modern/pop/country style music.

Most boer music players play by ear and there is no sheet music to my knowledge. I am in possesion of "lessons" with charts and diagrams of concertina layouts showing you which notes to pull and to pull during the course of a boer music song. Boer music players love anglo concertinas and use all three rows of buttons during any particular song. With the popular 40 button Wheatstone anglo one can play in all the twelve musical keys.

I will send you a PM and also a CD of boermusic. I can also send you a diagram how to play songs such as "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and "Amazing Grace" if you are interested.

Thank you, Alan and Ben, for your answers.

If there is no sheet music, how do you fix melodies? That is, do you have a pool of "commonly known melodies"? How do you learn them/pass them on? How tight are melodies defined and how much room is there for variations? I suppose, the harmonic accompagnement is simply derived from the melody?

Oh, so many questions...



Thanks, I will answer by PM.

Salutationes

Seb.