Thesis (MMus) – Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis considers the creative process involved in the composition and performance of new music for the horn. It sets out to describe the challenges and opportunities for composers and performers in this process and the value of collaboration between the two parties. There is a limited body of chamber music that includes the horn in South Africa, possibly because composers are not sufficiently acquainted with the complexities of this instrument and are hesitant to embark on a journey into the ‘unknown’. With few South African horn players devoting themselves to the performance of chamber music and particularly new music, little engagement has taken place between horn players and composers in the pursuit of new, idiomatic works for this instrument. This precipitated the researcher’s investigation into the composer-performer collaborative process, resulting in three commissions for chamber music including horn by South African composers Antoni Schonken, Keith Moss and Allan Stephenson. The collaborative process was central to these commissions in order to promote the concept of idiomatic horn writing. This research comprised three case studies, each documenting the creative process surrounding each commissioned work from inception of the work through the compositional process and rehearsals leading up to a performance. In order to generate a detailed report on each case study, data were collected throughout by means of reflective journaling and audio recordings, supplemented by interviews with participant composers and performers. The research revealed numerous technical intricacies composers need to be familiar with when writing for horn, and which may not be addressed in orchestration texts or other literature. Horn players may also be confronted with unconventional writing with new musical and technical challenges. Collaboration was shown to be of immense value in guiding the composer towards appropriate and effective writing for the horn, with the expertise of the performer being a source of knowledge for the composer. One of the main benefits that accrued to the performer through the collaborative process with the composer was the acquisition of valuable interpretative insights into the work to be performed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis stel ondersoek in na die kreatiewe proses rakende die samestelling en uitvoering van nuwe horingmusiek. Daar word gesoek na ‘n beskrywing van die uitdagings en geleenthede waarmee komponiste en kunstenaars in so ‘n proses te make het en die waarde van samewerking tussen bogenoemde twee partye. In Suid-Afrika is daar ‘n beperkte hoeveelheid kamermusiek waarby die horing ingesluit word. Die rede wat hiervoor aangevoer kan word, is dat komponiste waarskynlik nie oor genoegsame kennis beskik rakende die fynere tegniese aspekte van horingspel nie. Hul is gevolglik huiwerig om met die onbekende te eksperimenteer. Aangesien weinig Suid-Afrikaanse horingspelers belangstel in die uitvoering van kamer- en veral nuwe musiek, bestaan daar min betrekkinge tussen horingspelers en komponiste in die soeke na nuwe, eiesoortige werke vir hierdie instrument. Bogenoemde het die navorser aangespoor tot ‘n ondersoek na ‘n komponis-kunstenaars medewerkingsproses. Die eindproduk was drie kamermusiek-opdragwerke (horing ingesluit) deur die volgende Suid-Afrikaanse komponiste: Antoni Schonken, Keith Moss en Allan Stephenson. Die medewerkingsproses was van kardinale belang tydens die skep van hierdie opdragwerke met die oog op die bevordering van eiesoortige horingkomposisies. Die navorsing het uit drie gevallestudies bestaan: die eerste studie het die kreatiewe proses van elke opdragwerk gedokumenteer vanaf die eerste pogings regdeur die komposisieproses en vooraf-repetisies tot die uitvoering van die werk. Data is deurgaans deur middel van reflektiewe joernaalinskrywings en oudio-opnames versamel ten einde’n gedetailleerde verslag van elke gevallestudie daar te stel. Bogenoemde is aangevul deur onderhoude met die betrokke komponiste en kunstenaars. Die navorsing het verskeie tegniese ingewikkeldhede uitgewys waarvan komponiste bewus moet wees wanneer daar vir die horing gekomponeer word. Hierdie fynere aspekte word dikwels nie in orkestrasietekste of ander literatuur behandel en bespreek nie. Horingspelers kan ook gekonfonteer word met onkonvensionele komposisies met nuwe musikale en tegniese uitdagings. Die samewerkingsproses tussen komponiste en kunstenaars was uiters waardevol; aangesien dit die komponis gehelp het om toepaslike en sinvolle werke vir die horing te komponeer met behulp van die kunstenaar se kundigheid en kennis. Deur die loop van die samewerkingsproses kon die kunstenaar veral baat by die waardevolle wenke van die komponis rakende van die uivoering van die betrokke werk.

Thesis (MMus (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / This study represents a contribution to the subject-didactical review of three prominent compositions for the violin by three prominent South African composers, namely the Sonata on African Motives by Stefans Grové (1985), Luamerava by Hendrik Hofmeyr (2000) and the Concerto for violin and orchestra by Allan Stephenson (2007). The three composers are discussed with reference to biographical detail and broad compositional style, while the works are reviewed according to musicological aspects as well as violin specific didactical aspects. To avoid too much repetition, a chapter concerning technical issues and practice methods pertaining to all three works was added. In the Sonata on African Motives, Stefans Grové merges his “old” compositional style, in this work loosely represented by a lack of tonality and metre, as well as complicated use of rhythm, with his “new” African voice (1984-). The African voice, represented by a melody he overheard a black roadworker sing, ties the work together. The sonata consists of five movements, with the first and fourth movements, and the third and fifth movements linked through content. This work presents challenging ensemble playing, rhythmic detail, diverse timbre changes in the violin part, as well as pitch difficulty due to unusual intervals without tonal context. Hendrik Hofmeyr‟s Luamerava was commissioned by SAMRO for the overseas scholarship. The title refers to the last of the mythical Children of the Lost Star who lived in the Cariba gorge on the banks of the Zambezi river (according to Mutwa‟s description of the oral culture of the people of that region). The piece, like the Grové, is thus linked to Africa. The work was composed for solo violin, Hofmeyr makes the most of the lyrical and sonorous qualities of the instrument. Compared to the other two works studied, Luamerava presents the most advanced technical challenges, with extensive doublestopping being the main challenge. Allan Stephenson‟s Concerto differs significantly from the other two works studied in the sense that it is instantly appealing to the general music lover, mainly because of his use of easy flowing melodies. The concerto has, as is tradition, three movements. Although the work contains ample technical challenges, it is obvious that it was composed by a string player – both the extensive running passages and double stopping are quite possible to play once good fingerings have been found. In the discussion of these works, attempts at solving specific technical problems are made.

Thesis (PhD)-- Stellenbosch University, 1985. / Includes bibliography / INLEIDING: Daar is nog nie veel navorsing ten opsigte van musiekopvoeding en -onderwys, soos dit in die Suid-Afrikaanse situasie van toepassing is, voltooi nie. Name wat in hierdie verband wel vermelding verdien, is o.a. Jan Bouws, Theodore C. de Villiers, Anna C.M. Fick, Philip McLachlan, Rachel E. Pienaar, Petrus Roos, Gertruida M. Steyn, Anna G.J. van Wyk en Arthur Wegelin. Die terrein sover dit Kaapland betref, is ook nog nie deeglik verken nie, hoewel waardevolle werk deur Mej. Acàma Fick van die Universiteit Stellenbosch gedoen is ten opsigte van die geskiedenis van skoolsang in Kaaplandse skole tot 1915, die afsluiting van die Muirtydperk. Gevolglik is 1916 gekies as die aansluitingsjaar vir hierdie studie oor die ontwikkeling van musiekopvoeding onder die Kaaplandse Onderwysdepartement (K.O.D.). Ten einde 'n hydrae tot die moontlike verdere ontwikkelinge op hierdie gebied te kan lewer, is ook besluit om die studie tot 1984 deur te trek.

Thesis (M.Mus.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research for this thesis is presented in the form of a practical guideline for parents and educators in the Western Cape area. The important role of music in early childhood is emphasised throughout. Research, guidance and practical activities for the music education and development of the toddler and preschooler, are presented. The author answers and discusses the questions frequently asked by parents concerning musical education for their children, namely why, when and how, in the five chapters of the thesis. The importance of music education for children (the question concerning why) is discussed and emphasised by means of eleven different reasons supported by research. In Chapter 2, the important role of the parent as the child’s first music educator and prenatal stimulation is discussed (the question concerning when). In the two chapters that follow, the author provides parents with information about basic music concepts and skills that children should be able to master at specific ages. Throughout these chapters, practical activities to illustrate these concepts and to practise the relevant skills are suggested (the how question). Guidelines are presented concerning how play with the child should be approached and handled, as well as guidelines for the child’s first formal instrumental teaching and for choosing an instrument and a music teacher. The research is concluded with a practical section containing extensive lists of songs (in categories), CDs, DVDs, books and web addresses for the use of parents needing resources and further guidance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing vir hierdie tesis word in die vorm van ‘n praktiese handleiding vir ouers en opvoeders in die Wes-Kaap provinsie aangebied. Die belangrike rol van musiek in die voorskoolse kind se lewe word deurgaans beklemtoon. Navorsing, riglyne en praktiese aktiwiteite vir die musiekopvoeding en ontwikkeling van die voorskoolse kindword, word prakties aangebied en bespreek.Die outeur beantwoord en bespreek die vernaamste vrae wat ouers ten opsigte van musiekopvoeding vir hul kinders vra, naamlik hoekom, wanneer en hoe, in die vyf hoofstukke van die tesis. Die belangrikheid van musiekopvoeding vir kinders (die hoekom vraag) word aan die hand van elf verskillende redes en wat deur navorsing ondersteun word, bespreek. Die belangrike rol van die ouer as eerste musiekopvoeder en prenatale stimulasie word in Hoofstuk 2 bespreek (die vraag aangaande wanneer). In die twee daaropvolgende hoofstukke bied die outeur verdere inligting aan ouers oor basiese musiekkonsepte en vaardighede wat kinders op sekere ouderdomme moet kan bemeester. Praktiese aktiwiteite om hierdie konsepte te illustreer en die verlangde vaardighede te oefen (die hoe vraag) word deurgaans voorgestel. Riglyne word gegee oor hoe spel met die kind benader en hanteer moet word, asook riglyne vir die kind se eerste formele instrumentale onderrig, die keuse van ‘n instrument en van ‘n musiekonderwyser. Die navorsing word afgesluit met ‘n praktiese afdeling waarin uitgebreide lyste van liedjies (volgens verskillende kategorieë), beskikbare CD-opnames, DVD-opnames, boeke en webadresse vir ouers gegee word as bronne en as verdere riglyne.