Tutors in the Boer style

[Marcus]

I find it strange that even though the Boer style of concertina remains exceptionally popular in South Africa and is played by young and old there appears to be a void of tutors in this style. I think it's a wonderful style and is released in recordings almost as often as Irish concertina! Am I wrong in this assumption? Can anyone point me in the right direction for Boer style concertina tutors? I think Bertram Levy's new tutor could help in expanding a players capabilities in playing chromatically, but in order to practice Boer tunes, it seems we have to transcribe the music from YouTube videos and audio recordings.

[JimLucas]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for Boer style concertina tutors? ...it seems we have to transcribe the music from YouTube videos and audio recordings.

Yes, that's what Zak seems to be saying in this post, and he's from that tradition.

 

While there might indeed be a market for such a tutor outside South Africa, it looks as if one aspect of their tradition is learning by ear rather than by/from transcriptions or books. Not the answer you're looking for, I think, but if you really want to learn that style you may need to adopt their way of learning.

 

Still, I would guess that in addition to just listening, there's also one-on-one teaching involved. Maybe you could find one of the players who would give you lessons via Skype?

[Marcus]

I was hoping perhaps there were teaching resources used in South Africa that were not readily available outside the country that concertina.net users well versed in that tradition may be willing to share! I know that most folk traditions are passed down by ear, but there are volumes of tunes that have been put down in Irish and English traditions so my hope was it may be the same in the Boer style.

[Leo]

I was hoping perhaps there were teaching resources used in South Africa that were not readily available outside the country that concertina.net users well versed in that tradition may be willing to share! I know that most folk traditions are passed down by ear, but there are volumes of tunes that have been put down in Irish and English traditions so my hope was it may be the same in the Boer style.

Hi Marcus

 

Try a word search on Boeremusiek. It should find a few resources, like this:

http://www.boeremusiek.org.za/English/E_main_page.htm

 

Not all of it is in English, but it's good information.

 

Then combine the search with tutor, tuition, or anything else that comes to mind. Sorry, I don't speak the laguage, but, it's a start.

 

Thanks

Leo

[Anglo-Irishman]

I know that most folk traditions are passed down by ear, but there are volumes of tunes that have been put down in Irish and English traditions so my hope was it may be the same in the Boer style.

 

Marcus,

I think we shouldn't regard modern ITM as typical of traditional music! My father, born in 1902 in rural Co. Derry, was probably more typical of his generation and the generations before him, in that he was taught to play the fiddle by an older neighbour. That wasn't ITM, of course. It was just music to them!

The learning materials for homogenised Irish music are IMHO the result of a wide interest in the genre among foreigners (Americans, Frenchmen, Germans ...) who have to learn it as a "foreign language" - which some of them do pretty well!

 

As to the volumes of English and Irish tunes: if you mean sheet music, bear in mind that this is suitable only for players who have already learned the idiom on their instruments. An Irish tune-book does not, by itself, put you in a position to play music that sounds Irish, no matter how well you may read music.

I would assume that Boer music would be analogous. When you've learned how to handle your instrument in the typical manner (developed an authentic "accent") you can then widen your repertoire with sheet music or tune-books. Trying to learn the instrumental style from the notation of the typical tunes would be putting the cart before the horse, IMO.

 

That was the musical me writing. The political me prompts me to point out that the Boers have always been oppressed by someone - first the English, now the Bantus. Why don't we just let them remain the masters of their own, very attractive style of concertina-based music, and admire them for it? Why don' we put our energy into our own music, be it our personal music or the music of our own people, class or generation?

I think I'm more of a musician than a political commentator ...

 

Cheers,

John

[Marcus]

I agree with you John in most cases! I don't want to play in the Boer style all the time, I was just hoping there may be a repository of tunes for me to explore in my own way. I play Irish style music and also English style with chordal accompaniment. I've used American fiddle tunes, English Country Dances, Morris tunes and Irish tunes to further my understanding of the concertina. The Boer style being so chromatic looked interesting for exploring the keyboard further!