South African boxes?
dub...@my-dejanews.com
South African township jive music.
There's good info out there on Boer music, but that's different.
DejaNews turned up a few things,
that one row melodeons (what keys?) are used,
and Anglo 'tinas, perhaps with some retuning,
but I haven't heard what.
Anybody know anything?
Dan Richardson
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Chris Timson
>I'm looking for information on the boxes played in
>South African township jive music.
You need to get hold of issue 25 of Concertina & Squeezebox (dated
autumn 1991), which carries a long (11 page) and detailed article by
Harry Scurfield on the squashbox, the South African concertina. This is
basically a Bastari/Stagi type anglo. The "standard" tuning, according
to the article is a 20-button anglo in Eb/Bb, but with the push/pull
reversed on the right hand half of the Eb row and the left hand half of
the Bb row (would be a total bugger to play for someone like myself used
to the "normal" system), but there are apparently many other tunings as
well.
Chris
--
Chris Timson Have concertinas, will travel
and Phone (UK) 01225 863762
Anne Gregson For our home pages and for the Concertina FAQ:
http://www.harbour.demon.co.uk/
Dan Richardson
>reversed on the right hand half of the Eb row
>and the left hand half of the Bb row
Ouch! This sandbox has rocks in it!
>but there are apparently many other tunings as well.
Figures. That's a big help, though. Thanks.
I'll keep an eye out for issue 25.
Dan Richardson
Macromed5
>I'm looking for information on the boxes played in
>South African township jive music.
In addition to the squashbox/concertina link, there are also nearby traditions
that use piano accordion. The Rounder disc of "Sheshwe: The Sound of the
Mines", for instance shows people using small 24-48 bass Parrot and similar
PAs.
I'm unsure of my ground here, though, because I've heard a number of very
different sounds described as township jive, and I'm not sure how that
interacts with the mining communities, where reeds were popular. "Planet
Squeezebox" notes that accordions started displacing concertinas a bit there
towards the 50s, which adds another variable.
Any more contextual info on what you're seeking there, Dan? Any particular
artist, or type of sound, or period you're researching...?
(If you know of a disc with interesting playing, then I'd particularly like to
hear more about it, tia.)
Regards,
John Dowdell
Now playing: "Township Jazz'n'Jive" on Music Club label 1997... township music
influenced by '40s jazz and r&b from the US. Lots of horns, no squeezeboxes...
I can hear the lazy beat being topped by reeds rather than brass, though.
Chris Timson
>In addition to the squashbox/concertina link, there are also nearby traditions
>that use piano accordion. The Rounder disc of "Sheshwe: The Sound of the
>Mines", for instance shows people using small 24-48 bass Parrot and similar
>PAs.
Interestingly, a couple of the photos that accompany the C & S article
show small ensembles of squashbox, guitar and PA.
C&S is not really contactable for back-issues, BTW, but I have seen the
mnagazine in the Folk Life Centre in the Library of Congress.
Dan Richardson
>artist, or type of sound, or period you're researching...?
The only recording I have at hand is a taped copy of Julu Jive,
which is probably a Shanachie or Earthworks disk.
There's box of some kind on the Rainbows cuts.
If the Sithole listed is Mapfumo's guitarist,
this is probably Zimbabwean, but it's the right feel.
It also relates to music by Bulimundo and others,
stuff I heard while mixing at a festival in Cabo Verde last summer.
I've seen pictures of concertinas in studio pictures
on South African albums, but haven't heard the albums.
Dan Richardson
Dan Richardson
wrote:
>The only recording I have at hand is a taped copy of Julu Jive,
>which is probably a Shanachie or Earthworks disk.
That'd be Zulu Jive, if anyone's keeping score.
Dan Richardson