NewMusicSA
Encyclopedia
NewMusicSA is the South African section of the International Society for Contemporary Music
(ISCM). Its formation on 10 May 1999 heralded the return of South African representation at the ISCM after many decades.
NewMusicSA supports the creation of New Music by South African composers of all stylistic and cultural backgrounds. Since 2000, the organization has held an annual festival, the New Music Indaba, which showcases contemporary South African music performed by musicians based both within the country and abroad. A central part of the festival are the ‘Growing Composers’ workshops, which provide the opportunity for emerging composers to work with established musicians and composers in a supportive environment. From 2000 to 2006, the New Music Indaba was held as part of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown
in the Eastern Cape
province. From 2007 onwards the festival has been hosted by the University of South Africa
(UNISA) in Pretoria/Tshwane, Gauteng. NewMusicSA also runs Unyazi, a biannual electronic music festival. Other notable achievements include The Bow Project, which commissioned numerous composers to write new pieces for string quartet based on the uhadi bow music of Nofinishi Dywili.
In recent years, NewMusicSA has provided an important link between South African art-music composers and the international contemporary art music community by means of an exchange programme with the Visby International Centre for Composers (VICC). This programme has provided residencies for numerous South African composers in Gotland
, Sweden.
An important aspect of the organization’s role is to convene an annual jury to select South African works that will be considered for performance at the ISCM’s World Music Days festival. South African composers whose works have been selected for performance at the World Music Days Festival by the ISCM’s international jury in recent years include, Robert Fokkens
(2009), Clare Loveday (2008) and Stefans Grové
(2007). In the past the music of Bongani Ndodana-Breen
, Kevin Volans
, Hans Huyssen, Mokale Koapeng, Hendrik Hofmeyr
, Jürgen Bräuninger
has also been heard at the festival.
Since its foundation, NewMusicSA has worked with a number of other South African music and cultural organizations, such as SAMRO, the Unisa Music Foundation and most recently the South African National Youth Orchestra
to provide opportunities for emerging South African composers.
In 2008 the archive of NewMusicSA, which includes much documentary information and numerous unique music scores by South African composers was donated to the Documentation Centre for Music at the University of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape province.
Past Presidents of NewMusicSA include Michael Blake
(who founded the organization), Mokale Koapeng and Christopher Walton. The current President is Cameron Harris.
International Society for Contemporary Music
The International Society for Contemporary Music is a music organization that promotes contemporary classical music.ISCM was established in 1922, in Salzburg. Its core activity is the World Music Days Festival, held every year at a different location. The festival includes cutting edge productions...
(ISCM). Its formation on 10 May 1999 heralded the return of South African representation at the ISCM after many decades.
NewMusicSA supports the creation of New Music by South African composers of all stylistic and cultural backgrounds. Since 2000, the organization has held an annual festival, the New Music Indaba, which showcases contemporary South African music performed by musicians based both within the country and abroad. A central part of the festival are the ‘Growing Composers’ workshops, which provide the opportunity for emerging composers to work with established musicians and composers in a supportive environment. From 2000 to 2006, the New Music Indaba was held as part of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
province. From 2007 onwards the festival has been hosted by the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
(UNISA) in Pretoria/Tshwane, Gauteng. NewMusicSA also runs Unyazi, a biannual electronic music festival. Other notable achievements include The Bow Project, which commissioned numerous composers to write new pieces for string quartet based on the uhadi bow music of Nofinishi Dywili.
In recent years, NewMusicSA has provided an important link between South African art-music composers and the international contemporary art music community by means of an exchange programme with the Visby International Centre for Composers (VICC). This programme has provided residencies for numerous South African composers in Gotland
Gotland
Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
, Sweden.
An important aspect of the organization’s role is to convene an annual jury to select South African works that will be considered for performance at the ISCM’s World Music Days festival. South African composers whose works have been selected for performance at the World Music Days Festival by the ISCM’s international jury in recent years include, Robert Fokkens
Robert Fokkens
Robert Fokkens is a South African classical music composer. He is among a new generation of younger composers in post-apartheid South Africa. He was educated in Cape Town at Rondebosch Boys' School....
(2009), Clare Loveday (2008) and Stefans Grové
Stefans Grové
Stefans Grové is a South African composer. "He is regarded by many as Africa's greatest living composer, possesses one of the most distinctive compostional voices of our time".-Early life:...
(2007). In the past the music of Bongani Ndodana-Breen
Bongani Ndodana-Breen
Bongani Ndodana-Breen is a South African-born composer, musician and cultural activist. He was born in 1975 in Queenstown, South Africa and is a member of the Xhosa clan. He is often referred to by his Xhosa paternal ancestral name or isiduko, Rhadebe. He was educated at St...
, Kevin Volans
Kevin Volans
Kevin Volans is a composer associated with the post-minimalist movement in contemporary composition. He was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa on July 6, 1949, and even though he has spent most of his life outside his native country, is the best known South African composer active today.In...
, Hans Huyssen, Mokale Koapeng, Hendrik Hofmeyr
Hendrik Hofmeyr
Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr is among the younger generation of South African composers. Born in Cape Town, he furthered his studies in Italy during 10 years of self-imposed exile as a conscientious objector. While there, he won the South African Opera Competition with The Fall of the House of Usher...
, Jürgen Bräuninger
Jürgen Bräuninger
Professor Jürgen Bräuninger is a South African composer.Jürgen Bräuninger studied at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart with Ulrich Süsse and Erhard Karkoschka and at San Jose State University, California, with Allen Strange and Dan Wyman. He has contributed to films such...
has also been heard at the festival.
Since its foundation, NewMusicSA has worked with a number of other South African music and cultural organizations, such as SAMRO, the Unisa Music Foundation and most recently the South African National Youth Orchestra
South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation
The South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation is a non-profit organisation in the music education and development sector. The Foundation supports the training and development of South Africa’s young musicians through national courses, national and international tours and workshops, and...
to provide opportunities for emerging South African composers.
In 2008 the archive of NewMusicSA, which includes much documentary information and numerous unique music scores by South African composers was donated to the Documentation Centre for Music at the University of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape province.
Past Presidents of NewMusicSA include Michael Blake
Michael Blake (composer)
Michael Blake is a South African contemporary classical music composer.The composer studied at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and lectured at Goldsmiths College, University of London...
(who founded the organization), Mokale Koapeng and Christopher Walton. The current President is Cameron Harris.