“The Hills are Alive to the Sound of Music” memorably sang Julie Andrews to the Hills of the Tyrol as she attempted to instill the love of music into the von Trapp family kids. Well, much the same thing is happening on Solms-Delta “The Mountains are Alive to the Sound of Jazz” sings Adriaan Brand. Not quite as sweetly as Julie Andrews, but every bit as persuasive and he blows a mean trumpet too! And his music family is growing by the day.
The Drakenstein Mountains and the impressive Devil’s Face to the west have been ringing to the sounds of the various groups in the Solms-Delta Music Education programme for some time. Now, thanks to a generous grant from the Department of Arts and Culture, the programme has expanded to include Pniel and the adjacent village of Kylemore.As of Tuesday, 3 August, a large contingent of musicians from Solms-Delta and Pniel has descended on the Community Hall of Kylemore to showcase the music education programme and to invite young aspirant musicians to auditions. The hall was packed with youngsters who sat wide-eyed as the various bands tuned up and let rip with all the favourite Valley jazz songs. Extra ghoema drums were brought along and there was a mad scramble as the audience got in to the act. One talented little guy was accepted as a drummer on the spot.
Then it was the turn of the Soetstemme choir who really set the audience swaying and dancing with their music. Finally, Adrian introduced Nick Turner who teaches guitar, and the new members of the augmented teaching team, Mandla on trumpet and Karin on saxophone. Mandla proceeded to give a solo performance of such brilliance that a dozen new little Louis Armstrong’s were born right there and then.
Obviously there is not going to be a shortage of kids auditioning for the Kylemore sector of the Music Education Programme.
By John van Zyl
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