SOWETO has always been alive with music. The dance rhythms of Kwela, the syncopated guitars of Mbaqanga, the saxophones and trumpets of swaying African jazz and the voices of people singing in joyous, easy harmony.
Sandile Khemese, first violinist and musical director of the Soweto String Quartet remembers the reactions of friends in the early days: "All our friends thought we were very strange. They would laugh at us and tell us we were crazy playing these instruments. But it was all very natural to us. As young boys we would sit up all night listening to Haydn and Mozart. It all just seemed very natural to us".
For over 30 years a Youth Orchestra and a Symphony Orchestra thrived in the township - fusing the Classics with African traditions. Sandile graduated through both and shares some of his memories: "I was aware of our traditional music, but I didn't realise that I could express it through the violin. I thought it was an exclusively European instrument. When I was in the Soweto Youth Orchestra I realised that we could arrange African music for strings - it was a revelation".
"An
exciting fusion of classical instrument and hot african Jazz. One of my favorite
ensembles" Quincy Jones. In 1978, Sandile and his older brother Reuben
decided it was time to form their own string quartet. They rehearsed in their
spare time and would perform whenever and wherever they could. Sandile was offered
a scholarship at Manchester's Royal Northern Collage of Music in Britain. This
put the quartet on hold for 6 years until Sandile returned to Soweto in 1986.
And thanks to Apartheid, Sandile couldn't get a job with the "Whites Only"
National Symphony Orchestra. This turned out to be just the thing to get the
string quartet up and running. The quartet was back. Reuben on Cello, younger
brother Thami on Second Violin and a close childhood friend Makhosini Mnguni
on Viola.
The quartet had to keep their day jobs to survive at first, but their invigorating
live shows grew increasingly more popular across the townships. Sandile remembers
what it was like: "The first half of our concerts consisted of Classical
repertoire, with the second half exploding into our string arrangements of African
music. We wanted to teach kids in Soweto about different kinds of music and
to appreciate Classical music - it was very hard to make a living".
"Nobody could overlook the vitality of the ... rhythms which formed the
basis of the program. The harmonies evoke South Africa's rich tradition of vocal
ensembles" Clive Davis, The Times, London.
The Soweto String Quartet became a full-time professional outfit in 1992, the
time when South Africa was in the throes of dramatic change. Sandile on how
the changes affected the band: "The elections in 1994 turned everything
around for us. Our first really important gig was actually at President Mandela's
inauguration. That was very emotional, but it was also the turning point for
our career. The President even started recommending us for all sorts of other
jobs".
The Soweto String Quartet have recorded two previous albums for BMG Africa -
Zebra Crossing in 1994 and Renaissance in 1996. Both were a huge success. And
like Millennia, the albums showcase the bands unique blend of traditional rhythms,
Township Jazz, Pop songs, Jazz Fusion, and of course, strong Classical influences.
The songs are arranged in the band's unique and vibrant fashion - a true celebration
of the resilient township spirit.
The last few years have seen the band play all around the world as music ambassadors
for the New South Africa. But their home will always be in Soweto as Sandile
explains: "We belong to the people. And there are a lot of people coming
through studying these instruments and taking an interest. They don't think
we are quite so crazy anymore".