Hans Olaf Andresen

Hans Olaf Andresen (1902–1985). German-born composer.

Biography

Born in Berlin, he settled in South Africa in 1931. In 1939 he was engaged to Marthel Dittrich, an Afrikaans lady of Austrian origin. During the outbreak of the Second World War he was interned at the Leeukop prison. Eight months later he escaped and fled in South Africa for eleven months. During this time he composed marches for the Ossewa Brandwag under the pseudonym Andries Cilliers. After a period of time outside the South African border, he returned to South Africa where he was imprisoned for three years. Only with the power of the National Party in 1948 he returned to South Africa.

He composed nearly 400 works, dance music, marches, 3 operettas for children, but the majority were songs. Andresen published and disseminated his works by means of his own publishing firm (Melotone Waves Music Publishers).

He died in Kempton Park in 1985.

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

Andresen composed several operas, including Die Heidenooientjie (1957), Die Drie Astertjies (1960) and Die Mieliefeetjie (1961).

Sources

Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).

https://libguides.sun.ac.za/c.php?g=742999&p=5316210#:~:text=University%20library%20catalogue.-,Andresen%2C%20Olaf,in%20South%20Africa%20in%201931.

https://composers-classical-music.com/a/AndresenOlaf.htm

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities A

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to Main Page