|
|
Cruickshank, Andrew (b. August 27, 1973, Johannesburg). South African composer of mostly chamber, choral and piano works that have been performed in Africa; he is also active as a pianist.
Mr. Cruickshank studied piano privately with Phyllis Hunt in Durban as a child. He later studied actuarial sciences and mathematics at the University of Pretoria from 1992-97 and had private composition studies with Stefans Grové in Pretoria from 1993-97. In addition, he attended a masterclass with George Crumb in Potchefstroom in 1997.
His honors include First Prize in the Art Song Composition competition of the Roodepoort International Eisteddfod (1995, for Bushman Woman Eats a Tsama Melon), First Prize in the competition of the Oude Meester Foundation in Stellenbosch (1995, for Trio No. 1 for Violin, Cello and Piano) and First Prize in the UNISA competition in Pretoria (1995, for Toccata from Four Pieces for Piano). More recently, he received the PUK Chancellor's Prize for Afrikaans Composition from North-West University (2005, a commission to write Wit berk het in die bos gestaan).
He is also active in other positions. As a pianist, he has primarily performed works by South African composers, including Stefans Grové, and served as resident accompanist at the University of Durban at Westville in 1997. He worked as the music critic of the newspaper Daily News in Durban in 1999-2000 and founded the period-performance ensemble Mass Appeal in Gauteng in 2001 and has since served as its artistic director and principal conductor.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: crandza@polka.co.za
Street address: Mr. Andrew Cruickshank, PO Box 781388, Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2146, South Africa
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL: Exploring Green Hills and Blue Skies, large orchestra, 1994; Brown Landscape Changing Green, string quartet, string orchestra, 1995; Rain Gods Dancing with Birds, large orchestra, 1998
CHAMBER MUSIC: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano, 1993; Crossover (North x South x East x West), flute, bassoon, violin, cello, 1994; Trio No. 1 for Violin, Cello and Piano, 1995; Red Clouds Breaking Bird Song, flute (+ piccolo), piano, 1997; Black Man Makes Blue Gods, violin, piano, 1998; Praises of the Lunar Months, string quartet, 2004
CHORAL: Mass Anno 1990, mixed chorus, 1990; Six Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 4 mixed voices, 1992; Anthem (text by Stephen Gray), mixed African traditional chorus, mixed chorus, 1992; My Mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun (text by William Shakespeare), mixed chorus, 1992; Canto (text from the Carmina Burana), high/low chorus, African percussion, 1994; Triptych of Mixed Wood (text from Latin liturgy), mixed chorus, piano, percussion, 1994; Te lucis ante terminum/O nata crux (texts from Latin liturgy), countertenor, male chorus, 1994; Skulpe, Krappe en Oesters (text by Neil van Tonder), 12 or more mixed voices, 2003; Earth Song (text from a Malawian praise poem [translated by Judith Gleason]), 5 mixed voices, 2004; The Bori Called Baturen Gwari (text from a Nigerian praise poem [translated by Judith Gleason]), 4 mixed voices, 2004
VOCAL: Epithalamion Teratos (text by George Chapman), high voice, guitar, 1993; Bushman Woman Eats a Tsama Melon (text by Peter Strauss), high voice, clarinet, piano, 1995; Calling the Waterspirits (text from a Nigerian praise poem [translated by Judith Gleason]), high voice, piano, percussion, 2004; Wit berk het in die bos gestaan (text by Barend J. Toerien), soprano/tenor, violin, cello, piano, 2005
PIANO: Four Pieces for Piano, 1993; Prayer on the Bones, piano 4 hands, 1999; Kwela of Rhythm, 2004; Late Night Piano Music, 2004; Piano Sonata No. 1, 2004
DISCOGRAPHY (as composer)
Trio No. 1 for Violin, Cello and Piano. Lizelle le Roux, violin; Simon Raubenheimer, cello; Andrew Cruickshank, piano (Obelisk Music: OBR3001, 1999)
Red Clouds Breaking Bird Song. Bridget Stroebel, flute, piccolo; Andrew Cruickshank, piano (Obelisk Music: OBR3002, 1999)
Four Pieces for Piano. Andrew Cruickshank, piano (Obelisk Music: OBR3003, 1999)
DISCOGRAPHY (as performer)
Sewe Liedere op Boesmanverse (Stefans Grové). Alma Oosthuizen, soprano; Étienne van Rensburg/Andrew Cruickshank, piano; André Swanepoel, Leonie Viljoen, violins; Dawid Botha, viola; Kendall Reid, cello (Obelisk Music: OBR3004, 2000)
(Last updated on May 8, 2005)
T