egoli salon orchestra

LISTEN TO SOUND CLIP

The Egoli Salon Orchestra originated during April 2007 performing at the newly built Piazza at the Montecasino in Fourways, Johannesburg.

Preparing for these performances the musicians rediscovered music from an almost forgotten era. Everyone involved felt that this type of music should be promoted as much as possible. "Rediscovering" the historic role Salon music played in Johannesburg around late 1800 was very inspiring.

This orchestra consists of a core combination of five string players, five woodwind players, a pianist and an accordionist, although any instrumentation is possible.

With its name “Egoli” referring to gold, the orchestra honours Johannesburg’s ‘golden’ cultural traditions as the world centre of gold.

As western music took hold in the city areas, age old African music traditions were simultaneously heard within tribal reference. A slow process of lending cultural material from each other was already under way. Therefore African music repertoire crept into salon music programming, such as Thula, thula mtwana thula, thula. (Sleep baby sleep).

The ESO is highly recommended for all kinds of corporate and private functions, weddings, social activities, and is highly regarded as a concert performing ensemble.