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COMPOSITIONS

I approach music composition as a creative artistic process, executed through ratiocination in order to produce works of music that convey the composer’s sound construction through performing musicians. As composer I work with sound and as engraver I work with notes because I seek to find a balance between the conceptual and the perceptual in music. I often employ contemporary approaches, graphic notations and alternative performance techniques in many of my works in order to invigorate my unconventional ideas of sound. Integrating other forms of art through collaboration is also a substantial part of my oeuvre.

Orchestral Music

Solo Instrument and Orchestra

Chamber Music and Ensembles

Chamber Music and Ensembles

Piano

Flute

Violin​

Violoncello

Viola

Organ

  • 8 korale for organ and congregation (2013)

  • 12 diskante vir Liedere uit die Liedboek van die Kerk for solo instrument with accompaniment/congregation (2013)

  • Jesus kom na Jerusalem toe for organ solo (2011)

  • Jesus nooi die kindertjies for organ solo (2011)
  • Stefans Grové 90 Jubileum for organ solo (original version) (2012)

  • Vyf koraalvoorspele for organ (2012)

Percussion

Vocal Music with Accompaniment

Choir Music

  • Deo Optimo Maximo for soprano solo and SATB choir (2013, 2019)

  • Een Zoon is ons gegeven for SATB choir (2012)

  • Jesus kom na Jerusalem toe for children’s choir, female choir and organ (2011)

  • Jesus nooi die kindertjies for children’s choir, female choir and organ (2011)

  • Libera me for SATB choir (2019)

  • Noag het ‘n ark gebou for junior choir, piano, flute, and violoncello (flute and violoncello is optional) (2019)

  • Psalm 23 for SATB choir (original version) (2014)

  • Psalm 23 for SSAA choir (2017)*

  • Twee Skoolgedigte for SATB choir (2021)

Art and Music Collaborations

Film Music

Commercial Music

  • Theme song for DEKAT-TV (2011)

Contemporary/Light Music

  • Li-shanah Haba’ah bi Yerushalayim (2018)

  • Numbers (2019)

  • Verlange (2011)

  • Want dit is Kersfees (2018)

PERFORMANCES

2021

  • 13 January: Lament en route to Auschwitz. Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa; George Fazakas (flute)

  • 13 January: Lullabies for flute solo. Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa; George Fazakas (flute)

  • 13 January: Chorale for violoncello and piano. Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Carel Henn (violoncello), Christelle Engelbrecht (piano)

  • 13 January: A Portfolio of Mirrors for violoncello solo. Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Carel Henn (violoncello)

  • 4 April: Counting Sheep for clarinet and marimba. Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa; Morné van Heerden (clarinet), Magda de Vries (marimba)

  • 11 April: Kérésre for piccolo and orchestra. Domus Dei, Randburg, South Africa; George Fazakas (piccolo), Randburg Symphony Orchestra (conductor: Carel Henn)

  • 13 May: Insideout for speakers. The Henry George Gallery, Parkhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa.

  • 25 May: Stad in die mis for tenor and piano. Afriforum Theatre, Pretoria, South Africa; Coert Grobbelaar (tenor), Rudolf Geldenhuis (piano)

  • 25 May: Winternag for tenor and piano. Afriforum Theatre, Pretoria, South Africa; Coert Grobbelaar (tenor), Rudolf Geldenhuis (piano)

  • 3 June: Outsidein. The Henry George Gallery, Parkhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa.

  • 26 July: Fünf Skizzen nach Kunstwerken von Willem Boshoff for string quartet. Javett Art Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. Dieter Hendricks (violin), Hana Yim-Wahl (violin), Waldo Alexander (viola), Maren du Plessis (violoncello) [Novus String Quartet]

  • 25 September: KykAfrikaans. Javett Art Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. Vox Chamber Choir; Leonie Greyling (violin); Laetitia de Lange (flute); Carel Henn (violoncello); Rina Francis (piano).

  • 27 October – 24 November: Blind Alphabet. University of Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

  • 28 October: Winternag for tenor and piano. N.P. Van Wyk Louw Gedenklesing, Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria, South Africa; Coert Grobbelaar (tenor), Rudolf Geldenhuis (piano)

  • 9 November: Ek hou van blou for tenor, mezzo-soprano and piano. School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Coert Grobbelaar (tenor), Loraine Hibbert (mezzo-soprano), Rudolf Geldenhuis (piano)

  • 9 November: Stad in die mis for tenor and piano. School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Coert Grobbelaar (tenor), Rudolf Geldenhuis (piano)

  • 9 November: Winternag for tenor and piano. School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Coert Grobbelaar (tenor), Rudolf Geldenhuis (piano)

2020

  • 1 October: Finding the Eye of the Jukskei River Beneath Joburg. Featuring Mirror I and Mirror II from A Portfolio of Mirrors and a film by Hannelie Coetzee. Art film and music collaboration. Cure, curated by Johan Myburg. Exhibited at the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery. Online

  • 4 November: Blind Alphabet Letter B. Exhibited at Moving Cube – University of Johannesburg Gallery. Digital

2019

  • 7 May: Noag se ark for junior choir, piano, flute and violoncello. Laerskool Mooirivier, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Laerskool Mooirivier Junior Choir (conductor: Michelle Hendriks), Christelle Engelbrecht (piano), George Fazakas (flute), Charles Oliver (violoncello)

  • 11 May: Noag se ark for junior choir, piano, flute and violoncello. Super 12 Choir Competition, University of Pretoria Groenkloof Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Laerskool Mooirivier Junior Choir (conductor: Michelle Hendriks), Christelle Engelbrecht (piano), George Fazakas (flute), Charles Oliver (violoncello)

  • 14 May: A wind-up doll’s dream for alto saxophone and violoncello. Helton-Thomas Duo in Concert, Atrium at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, South Africa; Jonathan Helton (alto saxophone), Steve Thomas (violoncello)

  • 16 May: A wind-up doll’s dream for alto saxophone and violoncello. Helton-Thomas Duo Concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Jonathan Helton (alto saxophone), Steve Thomas (violoncello)

  • 23 May: Woolgathering for electronics. Henry George Gallery, Parkhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa; Electronic art installation and performance

  • 24 May: Noag se ark for junior choir, piano, flute and violoncello. Potch Choir Festival, NG-Kerk Miederpark, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Laerskool Mooirivier Junior Choir (conductor: Michelle Hendriks), Christelle Engelbrecht (piano), George Fazakas (flute), Charles Oliver (violoncello)

  • 24 May to 22 June: Woolgathering for electronics. Henry George Gallery, Parkhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa; Electronic art installation

  • 30 July: Lament en route to Auschwitz for flute and electronics. South African Music Concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; George Fazakas

  • 13 August: Lullabies for flute solo. South African Music Concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; George Fazakas

  • 13 August: Two Intermezzos for violoncello and piano. South African Music Concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Charles Oliver (violoncello), Christelle Engelbrecht (piano)

  • 8 October: A wind-up doll’s dream for alto saxophone and violoncello. Helton-Thomas Duo Recital, University of Florida Music Building, Florida, United States of America; Jonathan Helton (alto saxophone), Steve Thomas (violoncello)

2018

  • 14 April: Psalm 23 for SSAA: National children’s choir festival, Musaion, University of Pretoria, South Africa; North-West children’s choir (conductor: Christelle Engelbrecht)

  • 4 May: Psalm 23 for SSAA. National children’s choir festival, NG-Kerk Miederpark, Potchefstroom, South Africa; North-West children’s choir (conductor: Christelle Engelbrecht)

  • 30 June: Psalm 23 for SSAA. World Choir Games Farewell Concert, NG-Kerk Bult, Potchefstroom, South Africa; North-West children’s choir (conductor: Christelle Engelbrecht)

  • 6 July: Psalm 23 for SSAA. World Choir Games, Pretoria Boys High School, Pretoria, South Africa; North-West children’s choir (conductor: Christelle Engelbrecht)

  • 8 July: Psalm 23 for SSAA. World Choir Games post-concert, Voortrekkermonument, Pretoria, South Africa; North-West children’s choir (conductor: Christelle Engelbrecht)

  • 23 September: …jy die pad… An afternoon of Afrikaans art songs, University Congregational Church, Missoula, United States of America. Carolyn Burns (soprano), Dorothy Peterson (piano), Christopher Kirkpatrick (clarinet), Alicia McLean (bassoon)

2017

  • 24 May: You are my heartbeat (Du bist mein Herzschlag); SoundMine Toonmoment, Queen Elizabeth hall, Antwerp, Belgium; Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra/Antwerp Symphony Orchestra (conductor: Wim Henderickx)

  • 29 August: Paradigmationen for oboe, bass clarinet, viola, and marimba; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Olivier Barrier (oboe), Morné van Heerden (bass clarinet), Elmarie van der Vyver (viola), Magda de Vries (percussion)

  • 31 August: Paradigmationen for oboe, bass clarinet, viola, and marimba; South African Society for Research in Music (SASRIM) concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Olivier Barrier (oboe), Morné van Heerden (bass clarinet), Elmarie van der Vyver (viola), Magda de Vries (percussion)

2016

  • 16 July: A wind-up doll’s dream; SoundMine concert, Zwarte doos, Impulscentrum voor muziek, Neerpelt, Belgium; Jonas Gedeshi (guitar)

2015

  • 4 August: A portfolio of mirrors; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Human Coetzee (violoncello)

  • 4 August: Elegies after the death of Nelson Mandela; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Elmarie van der Vyver (viola), Mathilda Hornsveld (piano)

  • 12 September: Elegies after the death of Nelson Mandela; South African viola day concert, St Mary’s DSG, Pretoria, South Africa; Elmarie van der Vyver (viola), Mathilda Hornsveld (piano)

  • 18 September: Child’s play – three easy pieces based on the C major scale; National eisteddfod academy festival, Crawford Preparatory school hall, Sandton, South Africa; Sanuri Naidoo (piano)

2014

  • 5 August: Une dédicace musicale; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; György Sándor Fazakas (flute)

  • 5 August: A witch’s tale; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Joe Murphy (alto saxophone), Matthew Slotkin (guitar) [Duo Montagnard]

  • 20 October: Permutationen for percussion and string quartet; Composers national collegium, Musaion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Magda de Vries (percussion), Lizelle le Roux (1st violin), Jacques Fourie (2nd violin), Violeta Miljikovic (viola), Maren du Plessis (violoncello) [Epoch string quartet]

  • 21 October: Permutationen for percussion and string quartet; Composers national collegium, Musaion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Magda de Vries (percussion), Lizelle le Roux (1st violin), Jacques Fourie (2nd violin), Violeta Miljikovic (viola), Maren du Plessis (violoncello) [Epoch string quartet]

  • 16 November: Permutationen for percussion and string quartet; Composers national collegium, Fismer hall, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Magda de Vries (percussion), Lizelle le Roux (1st violin), Jacques Fourie (2nd violin), Violeta Miljikovic (viola), Maren du Plessis (violoncello) [Epoch string quartet]

2013

  • 7 May: Visions d’esquisses par temps de neige; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; György Sándor Fazakas (flute)

2012

  • 8 May: Visions d’esquisses par temps de neige; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; André Oosthuizen (flute)

  • 23 October: You are my heartbeat (Du bist mein Herzschlag); South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Rachelle Elmes-Wessels (piano)

  • 23 October: Stefans Grové 90 Jubileum; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Ockie Vermeulen (organ)

  • 23 December: Een Zoon is ons gegeven; Kerstconcert Groesbeeks, NH Kerk Groesbeek, The Netherlands; Groesbeeks gemengd koor (conductor: Eugène Ceulemans)

2011

  • 18 October: Spleen; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Annari van Jaarsveld (soprano), Andrew Munro (1st violin), Landi van Wyk (2nd violin), Ian Grewar (viola), Matthys Coetzee (violoncello)

  • 18 October: …jy die pad…; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Elsabé Louw (soprano), Andrew Munro (piano), Belinda Latsky-Campbell (clarinet), Kobus Dippenaar (bassoon)

  • 18 October: Verwerkings van korale uit die Liedboek van die kerk; South African music concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Gerrit Jordaan (organ)

2010

  • 25 October: Spleen; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Leonor van der Merwe (flute), Carli d’Alebout (1st violin), Elsabé Nortjé (2nd violin), Ian Grewar (viola), Matthys Coetzee (violoncello)

2009

  • 11 September: …jy die pad…; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Elsabé Louw (soprano), Andrew Munro (piano), Belinda Latsky-Campbell (clarinet), Janelize van der Merwe (bassoon)

  • 11 September: Suite for piano and violoncello II; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Human Coetzee (violoncello), Andrew Munro (piano)

  • 3 October: …jy die pad…; Fresh connections, Miriam Makeba theatre, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Siyabonga Maqungo (tenor), Mark Troop (piano), Jonathan Truscott (violin), Ben Hess (violoncello) [Chamber music company of London]

2008

  • 8 May: Suite for piano and violoncello I; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Human Coetzee (violoncello), Andrew Munro (piano)

  • 8 May: You are my most beautiful dream (Du bist mein schönster Traum); Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Jaco Meyer (piano)

2007

  • 20 May: You are my most beautiful dream (Du bist mein schönster Traum); Noot for moot concert, Rietondale primary, Pretoria, South Africa; Jaco Meyer (piano)

  • 6 September: Suite for piano and violoncello I; Young composers concert, School of music and conservatory, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Human Coetzee (violoncello), Mareli van Onselen (piano)

RECORDINGS

Studio, live, and MIDI recordings (sound and video) of the majority of compositions are available. The recordings of each composition is indicated on the individual pages of the compositions. Recordings can also be accessed through my YouTube channel. Please contact me if you have any queries about recordings.

MUSIC SCORES

Professional music scores and parts of all listed compositions are available from the composer at affordable prices/for free. Please click here to order scores. An example of music scores can be seen here.

SAMRO

Jaco is a member of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) that administers the performing rights of his compositions, royalties, and sells music scores.

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