Difference between revisions of "Hendrik Hofmeyr"
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Born Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr in Cape Town. | Born Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr in Cape Town. | ||
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| + | ==Training== | ||
After completing a BMus in musicology as well as MMus in piano (under Laura Searle) ([[University of Cape Town]], 1976–81), he continued his studies in Italy. He completed the ''corso superiore'' in piano at the Florence Conservatory where he was a student of Alessandro Specchi and in composition under Ivan Vandor at the Bologna conservatory, where he twice won the composition prize. | After completing a BMus in musicology as well as MMus in piano (under Laura Searle) ([[University of Cape Town]], 1976–81), he continued his studies in Italy. He completed the ''corso superiore'' in piano at the Florence Conservatory where he was a student of Alessandro Specchi and in composition under Ivan Vandor at the Bologna conservatory, where he twice won the composition prize. | ||
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| + | He was awarded a Doctorate in Music from [[University of Cape Town]] in 1999. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Career== | ||
He returned to South Africa in 1992, to teach at the [[University of Stellenbosch]] and later at the [[University of Cape Town]], becoming Professor and Head of Composition and Theory. | He returned to South Africa in 1992, to teach at the [[University of Stellenbosch]] and later at the [[University of Cape Town]], becoming Professor and Head of Composition and Theory. | ||
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== Contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance == | == Contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance == | ||
| − | Besides his numerous longer works, chamber pieces, musical renderings of poems and other writings, Hofmeyr has written music for a Wim Wenders film, and by 2012 had composed music for | + | Besides his numerous longer works, chamber pieces, musical renderings of poems and other writings, Hofmeyr has written music for a Wim Wenders film, and by 2012 had composed music for ballets and operas - three of the operas based on South African texts. His works include: |
* ''[[Il principe Barbablù]]'' ("''Bluebeard''", 1986), a chamber opera in 1 act, with libretto by the composer. Premiered at the Stia Music Festival, Italy. | * ''[[Il principe Barbablù]]'' ("''Bluebeard''", 1986), a chamber opera in 1 act, with libretto by the composer. Premiered at the Stia Music Festival, Italy. | ||
| − | * ''[[The Fall of the House of Usher]]'' (1987), a chamber opera with a libretto by the composer, after Edgar Allan Poe, | + | * ''[[The Fall of the House of Usher]]'' (1987), a chamber opera with a libretto by the composer, after Edgar Allan Poe. |
| + | * ''[[Vala - A Metaphysical Ballet]]'' (scenario by the composer, after William Blake, 1989) | ||
* ''[[The Land of Heart’s Desire]]'' (1989/1990), a one-act chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer, after William Butler Yeats. | * ''[[The Land of Heart’s Desire]]'' (1989/1990), a one-act chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer, after William Butler Yeats. | ||
| + | * ''[[Alice]]'' (3 act ballet, scenario by the composer, after Lewis Carroll, 1990-91) | ||
* ''[[Lumukanda]]'' (1995), an opera in 3 acts, with libretto by the composer based on text by [[Credo Mutwa]] | * ''[[Lumukanda]]'' (1995), an opera in 3 acts, with libretto by the composer based on text by [[Credo Mutwa]] | ||
* ''[[Die Laaste Aand]]'' (2001), a chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer based on the text by ([[C. Louis Leipoldt]]) | * ''[[Die Laaste Aand]]'' (2001), a chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer based on the text by ([[C. Louis Leipoldt]]) | ||
* ''[[Saartjie]]'' (2010), a 20 minute opera with a libretto by Hofmeyr himself. The opera was expanded into a full-length opera in 2022 as ''[[Sara Baartman]]'' with a libretto by [[Fiona Zerbst]]. | * ''[[Saartjie]]'' (2010), a 20 minute opera with a libretto by Hofmeyr himself. The opera was expanded into a full-length opera in 2022 as ''[[Sara Baartman]]'' with a libretto by [[Fiona Zerbst]]. | ||
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| + | ==Awards== | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1987, he won the South African Opera Competition with ''[[The Fall of the House of Usher]]''. He also received the annual [[Nederburg Prize for Opera]] for this work, subsequent to its production at the [[State Theatre]] in Pretoria in 1988. In the same year, he obtained first prize in the TrentoCinema - La colonna sonora International Competition in Trent, Italy, with a work for chamber orchestra, composed for a short film by Wim Wenders. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1997 he won two major international competitions, the Queen Elisabeth Competition of Belgium (with Raptus for violin and orchestra) and the first edition of the Dimitris Mitropoulos Competition in Athens (with Byzantium for soprano and orchestra). | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 10:07, 15 July 2025
Hendrik Hofmeyr (1957- ). South African composer.
Contents
Biography
Born Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr in Cape Town.
Training
After completing a BMus in musicology as well as MMus in piano (under Laura Searle) (University of Cape Town, 1976–81), he continued his studies in Italy. He completed the corso superiore in piano at the Florence Conservatory where he was a student of Alessandro Specchi and in composition under Ivan Vandor at the Bologna conservatory, where he twice won the composition prize.
He was awarded a Doctorate in Music from University of Cape Town in 1999.
Career
He returned to South Africa in 1992, to teach at the University of Stellenbosch and later at the University of Cape Town, becoming Professor and Head of Composition and Theory.
Contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance
Besides his numerous longer works, chamber pieces, musical renderings of poems and other writings, Hofmeyr has written music for a Wim Wenders film, and by 2012 had composed music for ballets and operas - three of the operas based on South African texts. His works include:
- Il principe Barbablù ("Bluebeard", 1986), a chamber opera in 1 act, with libretto by the composer. Premiered at the Stia Music Festival, Italy.
- The Fall of the House of Usher (1987), a chamber opera with a libretto by the composer, after Edgar Allan Poe.
- Vala - A Metaphysical Ballet (scenario by the composer, after William Blake, 1989)
- The Land of Heart’s Desire (1989/1990), a one-act chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer, after William Butler Yeats.
- Alice (3 act ballet, scenario by the composer, after Lewis Carroll, 1990-91)
- Lumukanda (1995), an opera in 3 acts, with libretto by the composer based on text by Credo Mutwa
- Die Laaste Aand (2001), a chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer based on the text by (C. Louis Leipoldt)
- Saartjie (2010), a 20 minute opera with a libretto by Hofmeyr himself. The opera was expanded into a full-length opera in 2022 as Sara Baartman with a libretto by Fiona Zerbst.
Awards
In 1987, he won the South African Opera Competition with The Fall of the House of Usher. He also received the annual Nederburg Prize for Opera for this work, subsequent to its production at the State Theatre in Pretoria in 1988. In the same year, he obtained first prize in the TrentoCinema - La colonna sonora International Competition in Trent, Italy, with a work for chamber orchestra, composed for a short film by Wim Wenders.
In 1997 he won two major international competitions, the Queen Elisabeth Competition of Belgium (with Raptus for violin and orchestra) and the first edition of the Dimitris Mitropoulos Competition in Athens (with Byzantium for soprano and orchestra).
Sources
http://www.composers21.com/compdocs/hofmeyrh.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendrik_Hofmeyr
Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).
Ivan Meredith. 2006. 'Opera in South Africa during the first democratic decade'. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Cape Town.
https://www.up.ac.za/sacomposers/article/2755791/hofmeyr-hendrik
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