Drakensberg Boys Choir Mesmerise

MPHO MOKWAPE
Correspondent | Monday June 10, 2013 00:00

 

Not only did they pull a crowd but the youthful singers, some as young as seven left the audience lost for words by the clarity of their sound and the technical precision they showed during their performance.The two-part performance of the boys led by choir conductor Johanne Van Der Sandet was humbling to listen to and watch, which saw the boys in the first round dishing out songs written and composed by different artists from all corners of the world as far as Russia, Japan, Haiti and Slovakia.

Despite the language barrier one could see the audience was enjoying the choir's clear sound, excellent discipline and musical abilities indeed making the musical a universal language that is understood by all regardless.The Afrikaans speaking audience and those who understand the language were also treated to some Afrikaans music.Some of the songs as explained by the choir master were nothing but fun with one written and composed by a Russian song writer talking about the beauty of snow as it falls and the boys did justice to the song as they displayed an animation of kids playing with snow in between the song performance.

Coming from the break the audience could only be reminded of the days when African music was widely enjoyed before the western music took over.The boys dressed in colourful clothes some resembling the South African flag and traditional attire gave the audience a taste of what makes African music unique and interesting.The gumboot dance that was synonymous with black mine workers during the time of apartheid used as a form of entertainment to relieve the tension came to life on stage as the choir dished songs like 'Chocholoza', coupled with the beating of drums.When the choir finally left the stage, they received a standing ovation with an endless round of applause.