John Joubert
John Joubert (1927-2019). Composer.
Contents
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
Stage works: Vlei legend, ballet op.4. Commissioned for the Van Riebeeck Festival, 1951. Ms.
Antigone, a radio opera in four scenes after Sophocles, op. 11. Rachel Trickett. First performance BBC Home service, July 1954, conducted by Basil Cameron. Novello, c1954.
In the drought, An opera in one act, op. 17. Adolph wood. First performance at Johannesburg Festival, October 1956, conducted by Anton Hartman. Novello, n.d.
Music for the play, Candle in the Heavens, James Kirkup, Ms.,1957.
Music for the SATOUR film, Flight to Fortune. Ms.,1958-1959. Novello, n.d.
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.
The Quarry, an opera in one act for young players, op.50. David Holbrook. Commissioned by the Middlesex County Council. First performance at the Copland School, Wembley, March 1956, under Michael Rose. Novello, 1967.
Music for the Agememnon of Aeschylus. Ms.,1966.
Under western eyes, an opera in three acts after the novel by Joseph Conrad, op. 51. Cedric Cliffe. Commissioned by Watney Mann, Ltd. First performance at the Camden Festival, May 1969, by the New Opera Company, conducted by Leon Lovett. Novello, 1968.
The Prisoner, an opera for schools in two acts after Tolstoy, op. 76. Stephen Tunnicleffe. Commissioned for the 400th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth I Grammar School for Boys, Barnet. First performance, March 1973, under the direction of David Patrick. Novello, n.d.
The Wayfarers, opera for young people 1983; Huntington, April 4, 1984.
Jane Eyre, opera after Charlotte Bronte. 1987-1997.
Sources
"Joubert, John". University of Pretoria. https://www.up.ac.za/sacomposers/article/2755855/joubert-john
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