The South African Composers Archive

This week I sit down with Meryl van Noie and we discuss sculpting with sound, experiences in Reality TV, and composing with pencils & planets.

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz (cello))

"Melting Truth" (written & performed by Meryl van Noie)

"Ek Sê Vir Jou Goodbye" (words: Meryl van Noie & M van Zyl, music: Meryl van Noie, performed by Laurika Rauch)

"Tabadol/The Watering Hole" (written & performed by Meryl van Noie)

"Scratch Study 02" (written & performed by Meryl van Noie)

"Autho(r)ise" (Music & Sound Design by Meryl van

Noie, performed by Nkemiseng Khena, Tamsyn Spannenberg,

Kirsten De Kock, Thabisa Dinga & Meryl van Noie (Voice Artists) & Thabisa Dinga (nyungwe, uhadi & mrhubhe))

"GW150914" (written & performed by Meryl van Noie)

"Tuning Out The Noise" (written & performed by Meryl van Noie)

This week I sit down with Arthur Feder (in front of an audience at Africa Open - Institute for Music, Research and Innovation) and we discuss creating catalogues, letting a piece do the work for you (and the mystery that is SoundCloud), and take some questions from those in the room!

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz (cello))

"Perpetual Motion" & "Rest" from "Movement" for wind quintet (Arthur Feder, performed by the KOMPOS Wind Quintet)

"Theme & Variation" for piano (Arthur Feder, performed by Lourens Fick)

"It Was Without" (Arthur Feder, performed by the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet: Mathias Karlsen Björnstad (soprano saxophone), Jörgen Pettersson (alto saxophone), Leif Karlborg (tenor saxophone), & Linn Persson (baritone saxophone))

"Between" (Arthur Feder, performed by the Odeion String Quartet: Samson Diamond (violin 1), Sharon de Kock (violin 2), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola) & Anmari van der Westhuizen Joubert (cello))

"Scherzophrenia" for saxophone & piano (Arthur Feder, performed by Liam Burden (alto saxophone) & Megan-Geoffrey Prins (piano))

This week I sit down with Reza Khota and we discuss approaching jazz from a classical angle, a brief history of the Cape Town jazz scene, and learning to listen backwards.

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz (cello))

"Up Roots" (Reza Khota, performed by Babu: Reza Khota (guitar), Kesivan Naidoo (kit), Shane Cooper (bass) & Ronan Skillen (tabla, percussion & didgeridoo))

"Close Encounter" (parts 1 & 2) (Reza Khota, performed by Babu: Reza Khota (guitar), Kesivan Naidoo (kit), Shane Cooper (bass) & Ronan Skillen (tabla, percussion & didgeridoo))

"Lost Is A Place" (Reza Khota, performed by The Reza Khota Quartet: Reza Khota (guitar), Shane Cooper (bass), Buddy Wells (saxophone) & Jonno Sweetman (kit))

"Event Horizon" (Reza Khota, performed by The Reza Khota Quartet: Reza Khota (guitar), Shane Cooper (bass), Buddy Wells (saxophone) & Jonno Sweetman (kit))

"Last Life In The Universe" (Reza Khota, performed by The Reza Khota Quartet: Reza Khota (guitar), Shane Cooper (bass), Buddy Wells (saxophone) & Jonno Sweetman (kit))

This week I sit down with Larissa Johnson and we discuss musicians creating theatre works, reclassifying "music", and being critical in a generative way.

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz -(cello)

"Improv 1" (written and performed by Warra Warras: Garth Erasmus (braced bow), Jethro Louw (uhadi) & Larissa Johnson (viola)

"Umhrubhe Improv" (written and performed by Larissa Johnson)

"Yaka Yaka" (written and performed by Larissa Johnson and the Khoi Khonnexion/Warra Warras (Glen Arendse, Garth Erasmus & Jethro Louw)

"Out Our Blue Heaven" (written and performed by Larissa Johnson (vocals and bow), with Warra Warras/Khoi Khonnexion (Glen Arendse, Garth Erasmus & Jethro Louw) & Adrian van Wyk)

"Phambili" (written and performed by Lungiswa Plaatjies (vocals/djembe), Larissa Johnson (umhrubhe) and The Night Light Collective (Matthijs van Dijk (violin), Sarah Evans (viola) & Nicola du Toit (cello))

"Improv 2" (written and performed by Warra Warras: Larissa Johnson (viola), Jethro Louw (uhadi), Garth Erasmus (bamboo fluit), ft. Adrian van Wyk (scats))

"Windmeule" (written and performed by Warra Warras: Larissa Johnson (viola), Garth Erasmus (bamboo fluit) Jethro Louw (vocals))

This week I sit down with Laura Stevens and we discuss learning from your contemporaries, The Intensity Graph, and the importance of always carrying a business card.

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz -(cello)

"Theme from 'Pierrot'" (Laura Stevens, performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ewan Clark)

"Bara I Nghafi" (Laura Stevens, performed by Liesl Stolz (flute), Eddie McLean (cello) & David West (marimba))

"Perfect Landing" & "The Pogrom" from "Albert Baechtolds Phantastische Reise" (Laura Stevens, performed by The Michael Kamen Film Orchestra, conducted by Pablo Urbina)

"Unsilenced" (Laura Stevens)

"The Way We Go" (Text: Kathy Towers, Music: Laura Stevens, performed by Linköping University Male Voice Choir)

Title Cue from "Elephant Refugees" (Composed and performed by Laura Stevens)

"Long Walk" (Laura Stevens, performed by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, performed by Yasuo Shinozaki)

This week I sit down with Timon Wapenaar and we discuss combining The Old with The New, the various shades of green "on the other side" and ask (without ever really answering) "WTF exactly IS a symphony?"

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz -(cello)

"Opening", "Balloon" & "Wrapping" from "Animals" (written & performed by Timon Wapenaar)

"Three Chansons" (Timon Wapenaar, performed by the Songhalolo Chamber Choir)

"The Gollum" (written & performed by Timon Wapenaar)

"Sonata for viola & harpsichord" (Timon Wapenaar, performed by Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Timon Wapenaar (harpsichord)

This week I sit down with Keith Moss and we discuss writing "memorable" melodies, the difficulties of freelancing, and the importance of keeping the Composer Muscle in shape.

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz -(cello)

"Hymn" for brass (Keith Moss)

"A Tree Within": 2. "Pomegranates of flame" (Keith Moss, performed by Juan Munoz (violin 1), Duncan Samson (violin 2), Susan Kunju (viola 1), Nicholas Fidler (viola 2),  Barbara Kennedy (cello 1), Keith Moss (cello 2) & Hilary Mohr (cor anglais))

"Concertino" for clarinet & orchestra (Keith Moss, performed by  Danré Strydom (clarinet) & the Odeion School of Music Camerata, conducted by Xavier Cloete)

"I Am who I Am" (Keith Moss, performed by Jolene McCleland (Soprano), Eugene Trofimczyk (Percussion) &

The Juliet String Quartet: Patrick Goodwin (violin 1), Annien Shaw, (violin 2), Emile de Rubaix (viola) & Babette Roosenschoon (cello))

"Drie Haikoes vir 'n Reisiger" (Text: Lynette van der Merwe, Music: Keith Moss, performed by the Horizons Project Choir, conducted by Pieter Bezuidenhout)

This week I sit down with Cara Stacey (The Night Light Collective/Gold Fox/Pergola) and we discuss the importance of notebooks, improvisation, and creating spaces for live music.

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin 1), Annette Walther (violin 2), Xandi van Dijk (viola) & Thomas Schmitz -(cello)

"Allegro" (Written & performed by Cara Stacey)

"We Can Hide" (Cara Stacey, performed by the Inclement Quartet: Natalie Mason (viola & vocals), Cara Stacey (piano & vocals) Ebrahim Nazier (bass) & Sarathy Korwar (kit))

"Fox" (Cara Stacey, performed by Cara Stacey (umrhubhe), Shabaka Hutchings (clarinet), Ruth Goller (bass), Seb Rochford (kit), Crewdson (concertronica)

"Cara + Beat" (written & performed by Cara Stacey (vocals & budongo) & Beat Keller (guitar))

"Light The Wild" (Cara Stacey, performed by The Night Light Collective: Galina Juritz (violin 1), Matthijs van Dijk (violin 2), Sarah Evans (viola) & Nicola du Toit (cello)

"Stolenboosch" (written & performed by Cara Stacey (piano) & Camilo Ángeles (flutes))

"Sunbird" (Cara Stacey, performed by Cara Stacey (uhadi), Dan Leavers (synth) & Crewdson (concertronica))

This week I sit down with Lise Morrison and we discuss writing for accordion, unidiomatic performance techniques and the bluest blue.

A heads up: This episode is probably best listened to on headphones!

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet)

"(ninety-five)" for organ, flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, 2 percussionists (Lise Morrison, performed by the Ives Ensemble, Slagwerk Den Haag & Ere Lievonen)

"Pacing" (Lise Morrison, performed by Coila-Leah Enderstein (piano), Brydon Bolton (double bass), Frank Mallows (marimba) and Lise Morrison (metal sheets))

"Trio in Five Movements" (Lise Morrison, performed by the Amatis Trio)

"Dololo" (Lise Morrison, performed by the New European Ensemble)

"cleared air & delicate dust" (Lise Morrison, performed by the Bozzini Quartet)

"Staircase Wit" (Lise Morrison, performed by Alice Belugou (Harp),
Jared Soldiviero (Vibraphone
), Nick Tolle (Cimbalom),
Rafal Zolkos (Bass Flute), 
Rozenn Le Trionnaire (Bass Clarinet), 
Nicolas Indermühle (Tuba) & 
Maggie Hasspacher (Double Bass))

"The Actors" (Lise Morrison, performed by Federico Fòria (oboe) & Sofie de Klerk (accordion))

"Taru" (Text: Nontsizi Mqwetho, Music: Lise Morrison, performed by Lunathi Ncamani (voice), Jean-Louise Moolman (viola) & Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello))

This week I sit down with Franco Prinsloo and we discuss composing for voice, learning to be free through improvisation, and the power of text & language.

Featured music:

"Eine Kleine Dubstep" (Matthijs van Dijk, performed by the Signum Quartet)

"Walvisnota" (Text: R. Bohenen, Music: Franco Prinsloo, performed by Vox Chamber Choir, conducted by Franco Prinsloo)

"Noodluik" (Text: Elisabeth Eybers, Music: Franco Prinsloo, performed by Magdalene Minnaar (soprano), Morne van Heerden (clarinet) Ronald Davey (cello), Jude Harpstar (harp))

"Pula! Pula!": (Franco Prinsloo, performed by Vox Chamber Choir, conducted by Franco Prinsloo)

"Sonnet 27" (Text: William Shakespeare, Music: Franco Prinsloo, performed by the Horizons Project Choir, conducted by Pieter Bezuidenhout)

"Pictures" (Text: Bai Juyi, Music: Franco Prinsloo, performed by Jessica Ng (soprano) & Judy Ho (harp))

"Pas de Deux" from "Sunnyside Suite" (Franco Prinsloo, performed by Magdalena de Vries, Charlotte Botha, Xitha Makgeta, Netanja Brink  & Kobus Kotse)

"Nunc Dimittis" (Franco Prinsloo, performed by the Horizons Project Choir, conducted by Pieter Bezuidenhout)