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NICO CARSTENS AS INNOVEERDER VAN SUID-AFRIKAANSE POPULÃRE MUSIEK

This study focuses on the contribution of the South African accordion player and composer, Nico Carstens. As one of the most notable early exponents of South African light music, Nico Carstens has delivered a prolific output that has not only earned him the status of a national music icon, but has also resulted in international fame. It is remarkable that, throughout his career, he contributed more than 2 000 hits. His greatest success, by far, was the song âZambeziâ, which earned him instant international recognition, and was subsequently performed by world-renowned stars such as Eddy Calvert, Bert Kaempfert, The Shadows and Johnny Dankworth.
In spite of Carstensâ importance within the field of South African light music, up to now, no comprehensive study has yet been undertaken to determine and document his contribution. Therefore, a more profound study on the meaning of his work with regard to the development and wider exposure of South African light music was necessary.
This study focuses on the ways in which Carstens has managed as composer and performer to elevate and enrich the traditional boeremusiek idiom by means of a fusion of different musical influences and styles to a stylised, more comprehensive, though very accessible South African popular music identity.
Firstly, a biographic perspective is presented offered in which the most important events during Carstensâ music career, linked directly with his development of South African popular music, is highlighted.
Secondly, his artistic contribution is described at the hand of three topics, namely those of his compositions, his discography and his role as entertainment artist.
The value of the research is that this study is the first of its kind to offer a profound investigation and valuation of Carstensâ music and his contribution to South African light music.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-07172013-154103
Date17 July 2013
CreatorsLouw, Susanna Helena Robina
ContributorsProf M Viljoen, Prof NGJ Viljoen
PublisherUniversity of the Free State
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen-uk
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-07172013-154103/restricted/
Rightsunrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report.

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