John Joubert

John Joubert (1927-2019). Composer.

Biography

John Joubert was born in Cape Town. He studied at the Diocesan College in Rondebosch (1934-1944) and at the South African College of Music in Cape Town, from which he graduated in 1944. While he was in Cape Town he also received guidance in composition from William Henry Bell. Upon being awarded a scholarship from the Performing Right Society, he went to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Theodore Holland and Howard Ferguson. He also studied for the degree of B.Mus at the University of Durham, graduating in 1950. He thereafter became a lecturer in music at Hull University, remaining there until 1962 when he moved to the University of Birmingham. He later held the post of reader in music (1969-1986) at the same university. He received an honorary DMus from Durham University in 1991.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Joubert composed the following stage works:

• Vlei Legend (a ballet commissioned for the Van Riebeeck Festival, 1951)

• In the Drought (an opera, 1956)

• Candle in the Heavens (music for the play by James Kirkup, 1957)

• Flight to Fortune (Music for the SATOUR film, 1958-1959)

• Silas Marner, an opera in three acts after the novel by George Elliot, op. 31, Rachel Trickett. First performance at the Little Theatre, Cape Town, May 1961, by the University of Cape Town Opera School, conducted by Prof. Erik Chisholm. Novello, 1961.

Sources

"Joubert, John". University of Pretoria. https://www.up.ac.za/sacomposers/article/2755855/joubert-john

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