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**??. His autobiographical account of his time in London (Chocolates for my Wife) was published in 1961. | + | 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**??. |
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| + | His autobiographical account of his time in London (''Chocolates for my Wife'') was published by Hoddder and Stoughton in 1961. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 10:19, 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.
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