The annual South African Music Concert is hosted by the North-West University and this year there will be two different concerts. This is the second concert that will feature music by Jaco Meyer. Charles Oliver and Christelle Engelbrecht will play Intermezzo I and Intermezzo II for violoncello and piano at this concert.
The annual South African Music Concert is hosted by the North-West University and this year there will be two different concerts. This is the first concert that will feature music by Jaco Meyer, Hannes Taljaard, Chris van Rhyn, Miles Warrington and Mauro Zanolli. “Lament en route to Auschwitz” by Jaco Meyer for flute and electronics will be performed for the first time by George Fazakas.
I was privileged to feature in the newspaper Today in Seychelles with an article “Musical Arts Education” by Estelle Chang-Thiou.
My paper, “The theory of musical forces as a pedagogical tool for teaching music”, was approved for the ISME-PASMAE Conference of 2019 in Victoria, Seychelles. In this paper I described how Larson’s theory of musical forces can be employed as a pedagogical tool by teachers.
My choral composition, Noag se ark, will be performed by the Laerskool Mooirivier Junior Choir at the Potch Choir Festival on 24 May 2019 at 18:30. This composition was commissioned by the choir. It will be conducted by Michelle Hendriks, piano: Christelle Engelbrecht, flute: George Fazakas, and cello: Charles Oliver. Tickets will be sold at the door.
A wind-up doll’s dream was originally composed in Belgium for marimba and vibraphone with a version for guitar solo. These versions were recomposed entirely for saxophone and violoncello and will be performed by the Helton-Thomas Duo from America. They are touring South Africa in May and will perform this work at the School of Music and Conservatory on Thursday 16 May 2019 at 19:30 together with works by Hannes Taljaard and Robert Fokkens. Tickets can be bought from the North-West University, Protea Book Store or at the door. More information on the Helton-Thomas Duo at www.heltonthomasduo.com.
A wind-up doll’s dream was originally composed in Belgium for marimba and vibraphone with a version for guitar solo. These versions were recomposed entirely for saxophone and violoncello and will be performed by the Helton-Thomas Duo from America. They are touring South Africa in May and will perform this work at The Atrium at Wits University on Tuesday 14 May 2019 at 19:30 together with works by Jacob, Villa-Lobos, Elliott, Chang, Richards and Geico. Tickets can be bought from www.webtickets.co.za or at the door. More information on the Helton-Thomas Duo at www.heltonthomasduo.com.
Psalm 23 is probably one of the best-known psalms and it has recently been published with a new Afrikaans text in “Die direkte vertaling van die Bybel”. The text of this composition is from this particular translation, written for a four-part choir. This composition was chosen by the North-West Children’s Choir as their composition by a South African composer for the 2018 World Choir Games in Pretoria. The video above shows the North-West Children’s Choir performing Psalm 23 at the World Choir Games with Christelle Engelbrecht as conductor.
Die Here is my herder;
ek ly nie gebrek nie.
In groen weivelde laat Hy my rus;
na water waar daar rusplek is,
lei Hy my.
Hy gee my nuwe lewenskrag;
Hy lei my op die regte paaie
ter wille van sy Naam.
Selfs as ek in die donkerste kloof ingaan,
is ek nie bang vir gevaar nie,
want U is by my.
Dit is u staf en u stok wat my gerusstel.
U dek vir my 'n tafel
voor die oë van my teenstanders.
U verfris my kop met olyfolie;
my beker loop oor.
Net goedheid en troue liefde sal my volg
al die dae van my lewe,
en ek sal bly terugkeer
na die huis van die Here,
tot in lengte van dae.
Psalm 23. Nuwe Testament en Psalms: ‘n Direkte vertaling. 2014.
Lament en route to Auschwitz for flute and electronics was commissioned by the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) for the flautist George Fazakas. The electronics that accompany the flute for this composition were created using war sounds and Jewish prayers. The electronics were created in ProTools – an excerpt of the ProTools session is shown in the picture above. Rehearsals (with electronics) for this work will start in April 2019. Updates with more details will be posted soon.