RICCIOTTI ENSEMBLE

October 7 – 10, 1994

 

The Ricciotti Ensemble playing on the streets of Durban, 1994

The original Ricciotti Ensemble, from which this SA group took its name, was a 25 year old Dutch street orchestra. This later incarnation was organized by Libbie du Toit in Johannesburg and Brendon Bussy in Durban, and its aim was articulated in this statement from the group:

The aim of this ensemble is to play to audiences outside the established concert podia. The musicians consist of music students, young professionals and good amateurs from across the country. The repetoire range from Classical to Contemporary.
October 1994 marks the birth of the South African Ricciotti ensemble and forthcoming there will be a tour organised every holiday.[1]

The group’s mission was to bring various musicians from around the country together and to then take this ensemble ‘to the streets’. As Bussy was involved, and Barry was their contact in Durban, he organized for them to rehearse at the FLAT. At that time, we had all moved out of the FLAT in an attempt to make the entire FLAT into a gallery. They not only rehearsed at the FLAT, but also prepared meals and were offered the FLAT for lodging.
The ensemble played in a variety of venues in Durban. These included performances on the street, various folk and rock clubs, and in a music hall in Umlazi township. The ensemble was structured in such as way that they invited anyone to join in their music playing and so was an open-ended group of musicians. In Umlazi, Thami Jali and a group of gumboot dancers became a part of the ensemble.
As with previous events, such as the beader’s workshop or Sam Ntshangase’s school children’s day in the gallery, the FLAT again operated as a ‘community center’, providing a space as needed. This time as a rehearsal site.