Robert Fokkens
Encyclopedia
Robert Fokkens is a South Africa
n 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
.
His works are frequently performed in the UK, Europe and South Africa, including performances at the Wigmore Hall
, the Purcell Room
, the Holland Music Sessions, the Spitalfields Festival, the South African National Arts Festival (see Grahamstown Festival), and the Royal Festival Hall
. He has had works performed in Japan, Australia and the USA, and his music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3
. His music is included on a 2005 CD of South African choral music, Towards the Light, recorded by the Commotio
choir.
Fokkens previously studied at the South African College of Music
at the University of Cape Town
with Peter Klatzow, and at the Royal Academy of Music
, where he held the Manson Fellowship in 2001–2. He has received many awards and scholarships and completed his PhD, supervised by Michael Finnissy
at the University of Southampton
in 2006.
The composer explored writing contemporary music theatre which escapes both ‘opera’ and ‘music theatre’ traditions, and aims at a wider audience than most contemporary music. His dramatic work is in the growing field of ‘physical theatre
’, inspired by companies like Frantic Assembly, Gecko, Complicité, Theatre O and Ridiculusmus.
Current musical interests are in South African traditional musics, particularly Xhosa and Zulu bow music, and jazz
and electronica
.
Since 2008 Fokkens have been Vice President of NewMusicSA
, the South African section of the International Society for Contemporary Music.
Orchestral
Large Ensemble
Instrumental
Incindental Music
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is among a new generation of younger composers in post-apartheid South Africa. He was educated in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
at Rondebosch Boys' School
Rondebosch Boys' School
Rondebosch Boys' School may refer to:* Rondebosch Boys' High School* Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory School...
.
His works are frequently performed in the UK, Europe and South Africa, including performances at the Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
, the Purcell Room
Purcell Room
The Purcell Room is a concert and performance venue which forms part of the Southbank Centre, one of central London's leading cultural complexes. It is named after the 17th century English composer Henry Purcell and has 370 seats....
, the Holland Music Sessions, the Spitalfields Festival, the South African National Arts Festival (see Grahamstown Festival), and the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
. He has had works performed in Japan, Australia and the USA, and his music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
. His music is included on a 2005 CD of South African choral music, Towards the Light, recorded by the Commotio
Commotio (Oxford-based choir)
Commotio is an Oxford-based chamber choir formed in August 1999 to promote neglected contemporary choral repertoire.-History:Its conductor is Matt Berry. Matt studied music at University College, Oxford, where he was Organ Scholar and then Assistant Organist...
choir.
Fokkens previously studied at the South African College of Music
South African College of Music
The South African College of Music, abbreviated as SACM, is a department of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town. It is located on the University's Lower Campus in Rondebosch, Cape Town.-Study opportunities:...
at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
with Peter Klatzow, and at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, where he held the Manson Fellowship in 2001–2. He has received many awards and scholarships and completed his PhD, supervised by Michael Finnissy
Michael Finnissy
Michael Finnissy is an English composer and pianist. His music is characterised by the range of extremes often found in his work; opposing binary structures are found commonly, often seen as juxtaposing textures, register and tempi...
at the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
in 2006.
The composer explored writing contemporary music theatre which escapes both ‘opera’ and ‘music theatre’ traditions, and aims at a wider audience than most contemporary music. His dramatic work is in the growing field of ‘physical theatre
Physical theatre
Physical theatre is used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama through primarily and secondarily physical and mental means. There are several quite distinct but indistinct traditions of performance which all describe themselves using the term "physical theatre",...
’, inspired by companies like Frantic Assembly, Gecko, Complicité, Theatre O and Ridiculusmus.
Current musical interests are in South African traditional musics, particularly Xhosa and Zulu bow music, and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
.
Since 2008 Fokkens have been Vice President of NewMusicSA
NewMusicSA
NewMusicSA is the South African section of the International Society for Contemporary Music . Its formation on 10 May 1999 heralded the return of South African representation at the ISCM after many decades....
, the South African section of the International Society for Contemporary Music.
Selected compositions
Vocal and choral- In Times Like These [Moore, Donnelly, Shaw, Carson, Yeats] (tenor and piano, 2005)
- Four Colonizations (soprano, clarinet/bass clarinet and cello, 2005)
- Dulce et Decorum Est [Wilfred Owen] (counter-tenor and four trombones, 2002; counter-tenor and organ, 2005)
- About the Ninth Hour (SATB choir, 2004)
- Age Unknown [Fokkens] (soprano and chamber ensemble, 2001)
- Jesu Dulcis Memoria (SATB choir, 2000)
Orchestral
- And Eventful Morning Near East London [Violin Concerto] (violin and chamber orchestra, 2006)
- Uhambo Olunintsi [Journeys] (2002)
- Strobe (1999)
Large Ensemble
- To Hell and Back (string ensemble, 2000)
Instrumental
- 9 Solitudes (piano, 2006)
- Tracing Lines (quarter-tone alto flute and cello, 2006)
- On Disruption and Displacement (cello and piano, 2004; string quartet, 2005)
- Relational Study (bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 2003)
- Irreconcilable Truths (violin and piano, 2002)
- Black (wind quintet and piano, 2000)
- Running Out (piano, 1999)
- The True Confessions of Bonzo the Clown (clarinet and piano, 1997)
Incindental Music
- The Syringa Tree (Pamela Gien) (solo double bass, 2005)
External links
- African Composers http://sacomposers.up.ac.za/index.html#a
- Grahamstown Festival http://www.nafest.co.za/about_history.htm
- Robert Fokkens' webpage http://www.robertfokkens.co.uk
- New MusicSA http://www.newmusicsa.org.za