Difference between revisions of "Todd Matshikiza"

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'''Todd Matshikiza''' (1921-1968) Musician, journalist and broadcaster.  
 
'''Todd Matshikiza''' (1921-1968) Musician, journalist and broadcaster.  
  
Misrepresented by the chronichlers of the King Kong project as an untrained amateur, he was actually a highly accomplished musician. A successor of [[African vaudeville]] impressario [[Motsieloa]], he worked with several bands as pianist, including the Harlem Swingsters and the Jazz Dazzlers, was Drum magazine’s music editor, and a serious composer. His articles include “How Musicians Die” (1953) and “Jazz Comes to Jo’burg” (1957) and among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called [[Makhalipile]] (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and  a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956). Between 1957-59 he helped write the synopsis, composed the music and wrote the Nguni lyrics for the musical ''[[King Kong]]'' and in 195*/6* collaborated with [[Alan Paton]] on the musical show ''[[Mkhumbane]]''. In 196* he was banned and left the country, to die in exile. His son [[John Matshikza|John]] inherited the copyright to his father’s work**??.  
+
Misrepresented by the chronichlers of the King Kong project as an untrained amateur, he was actually a highly accomplished musician. A successor of [[African vaudeville]] impressario [[Motsieloa]], he worked with several bands as pianist, including the Harlem Swingsters and the Jazz Dazzlers, was Drum magazine’s music editor, and a serious composer. His articles include “How Musicians Die” (1953) and “Jazz Comes to Jo’burg” (1957) and among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called [[Makhalipile]] (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and  a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956). Between 1957-59 he helped write the synopsis, composed the music and wrote the Nguni lyrics for the musical ''[[King Kong]]'' and in 195*/6* collaborated with [[Alan Paton]] on the musical show ''[[Mkhumbane]]''. In 196* he was banned and left the country, to die in exile. His son [[John Matshikiza|John]] inherited the copyright to his father’s work**??.  
  
 
His autobiographical account of his time in London (''Chocolates for my Wife'') was published by Hoddder and Stoughton in 1961.
 
His autobiographical account of his time in London (''Chocolates for my Wife'') was published by Hoddder and Stoughton in 1961.

Revision as of 10:23, 21 April 2017

Todd Matshikiza (1921-1968) Musician, journalist and broadcaster.

Misrepresented by the chronichlers of the King Kong project as an untrained amateur, he was actually a highly accomplished musician. A successor of African vaudeville impressario Motsieloa, he worked with several bands as pianist, including the Harlem Swingsters and the Jazz Dazzlers, was Drum magazine’s music editor, and a serious composer. His articles include “How Musicians Die” (1953) and “Jazz Comes to Jo’burg” (1957) and among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called Makhalipile (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956). Between 1957-59 he helped write the synopsis, composed the music and wrote the Nguni lyrics for the musical King Kong and in 195*/6* collaborated with Alan Paton on the musical show Mkhumbane. In 196* he was banned and left the country, to die in exile. His son John inherited the copyright to his father’s work**??.

His autobiographical account of his time in London (Chocolates for my Wife) was published by Hoddder and Stoughton in 1961.

Sources

Tucker, 1997. 127-128.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.


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