Cover
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HENDRIK SUSAN EN SY ORKES
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TRACK LISTING
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ARTISTS
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NOTESIn 1938 Pieter de Waal of the SABC approached Hendrik Susan about forming a band that would re-constitute an Afrikaans music in the form of a “boereorkes” for radio. These were the early days of Afrikaans broadcasting. The state-run SABC had only been formed in 1936 as an official act of parliament, after an investigation by Herzog into the financial dealings of its commercial predecessor, the ABC. South African radio prior to this time was dominated by English programming but in 1937 two services were established in English and Afrikaans. Of the six members of Hendrik Susan’s band three were English and had to change their names accordingly, and the music they played marked the beginning of what became known as “boeremusiek”. Hendrik Susan and his band became political symbols when his band chose to follow and broadcast each night from the 1938 centenary celebrations of the Great Trek. They were so successful that for many years they became identified with the National Party. Perhaps with some irony, it is interesting to note that Susan in his earlier years had performed (on sax and violin) with the Jazz Maniacs (Solomon ‘Zuluboy’ Cele and Wilson Silgee’s band) at the Orange Grove. Blikkiesdorp Vastrap by Hendrik Susan en sy Orkes was recorded on the green HMV label—also known as His Master’s Voice—and in this case perhaps showing perhaps a little political irony. The famous dog and trumpet logo on the record is remarkably censored by a piece of cello-tape bearing the owners name: “Barker”. Notes adapted from Ralph Trewhela's account of Hendrik Susan in Song Safari. |
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