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Hofmeyr, Hendrik (b. November 20, 1957, Cape Town). South African composer of stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, and piano works that have been performed in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
Dr. Hofmeyr studied piano as a child. He studied musicology at the University of Cape Town from 1976-79, where he earned his BMus, and later studied piano with Laura Searle there in 1980-81 and earned his MMus. He then studied piano with Alessandro Specchi at the Conservatorio Cherubini in Florence from 1981-83 and conducting with Alessandro Pinzauti there from 1986-89, as well as composition with Ivan Vandor at the Conservatorio G.B. Martini in Bologna from 1983-86. He earned his DMus by publication at the University of Cape Town in 1999.
Among his honors are First Prize in the South African Opera competition (1987, for The Fall of the House of Usher) and the Nederburg Prize for Opera (1988, for the production of this same work). He also obtained First Prize in the Cinema – La Colonna Sonora competition in Trento (1988, for Immagini da 'Il cielo sopra Berlino'). More recently, he won First Prize in the Concours Musical International Reine Elisabeth de Belgique (1997, for Raptus) and Second Prize (no First Prize was awarded) in the Dimitris Mitropoulos competition in Athens (1997, for Byzantium).
Dr. Hofmeyr lectured on analysis, music history, music theory, and other subjects at the University of Stellenbosch from 1992-98. He has taught analysis, conducting, harmony, music history, and music theory at the University of Cape Town since 1998, where he has been Associate Professor since 2000.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: mushhh@protem.uct.ac.za or colaas@iafrica.com
Street address: Dr. Hendrik Hofmeyr, 5 Nemesia St., Darling 7345, South Africa
Telephone/fax: + 2702 2492 3343
Street address (university): Dr. Hendrik Hofmeyr, SA College of Music, University of Cape Town Private Bag, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa
Telephone (university): + 2702 1650 2642
Fax (university): + 2702 1650 2627
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: The Fall of the House of Usher (1 act chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after Edgar Allan Poe), lyric soprano, 1-2 tenors, bass-baritone, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, French horn, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2 percussion, 1987; Vala – A Metaphysical Ballet (scenario by the composer, after William Blake), large orchestra, 1989; The Land of Heart's Desire (1 act chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after William Butler Yeats), soprano leggero, lyric soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, French horn, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2 percussion, 1989; Alice (3 act ballet, scenario by the composer, after Lewis Carroll), large orchestra, 1990-91 (a suite was arranged; also versions of Tango for 3 clarinets, 3 violins, cello, piano 4 hands and violin, viola, cello, piano; versions of some sections for 2 pianos); Lumukanda (3 act opera, libretto by the composer, after Credo Mutwa), 4 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, alto, 3 tenors, baritone, 2 basses, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1993-96; Die Laaste Aand (1 act chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after C.L. Leipoldt), lyric soprano, tenor, 2 baritones, 2 basses, flute, oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon (+ contrabassoon), French horn, string quartet, double bass, percussion, 2001
ORCHESTRAL: Immagini da 'Il cielo sopra Berlino', small orchestra (21 players), 1988; Alice, large orchestra, 1996 (suite from ballet); Raptus, violin, orchestra, 1997; Iingoma, 1998 (adaptation of Thula, babana, Uqongqot'hwane; also longer version with 7 additional brass, 1998); Apocalypsis, large orchestra, 1998; Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra, 1999; Concerto per flauto e orchestra, 1999; Simulacrum, large orchestra, 2000; Umculo Wemvula (Rainmusic), 2001; Concerto per violino e flauto, flute, violin, 16 strings, 2002; Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, 2004
CHAMBER MUSIC: Wonderland Suite, oboe, piano, 1977; Cavatina, flute, piano, 1980; Partita canonica, clarinet, 1983; Die Lied van Juanita Perreira, cello, piano, 1985; Cadenza, cello, 1994; Incantesimo, flute, 1996 (also version for tenor recorder, 2002); Nelle mani d'Amduscias, violin, 1996; Notturno elegiaco, harp, 1996 (also versions for flute, cello, piano, 1998; violin, cello, piano, 2003); Tango, 3 clarinets, 3 violins, cello, piano 4 hands, 1997 (version of section of Alice; also version for violin, viola, cello, piano, 2003); String Quartet, 1998; Iingoma, soprano recorder (+ alto recorder), alto recorder, tenor recorder, bass recorder, 2000 (adaptation of Thula, babana, Uqongqot'hwane); Luamerava, violin, 2000; Marimba, flute, 2000; Scherzetto, alto recorder, 2000; Luanaledi, alto recorder (+ tenor recorder), 2001; Partita, viola, 2001; Il poeta e l'usignolo, flute, guitar, 2004; Tango dell'amarezza, cello, double bass, 2004; Crucifixus, cello, organ, 2004
CHORAL: Liederwysgesange (text by Boerneef), mixed chorus, piano, 1983; Sound the Flute! (text by William Blake), mixed chorus, piano, 1985-86; Sweet was the Song (text by John Attey), mixed chorus, 1986 (also version for children's/female chorus, 2001); Care-Charmer Sleep (text by Samuel Daniel), 5 mixed voices, 1987; Missa Sancti Ignatii de Loyola, soprano, 9 mixed voices, orchestra, 1988; Requiem, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, 8 mixed voices, 1975-93; Kersliedjie (text by D.J. Opperman), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1995 (also versions for female/mixed chorus, piano, 2002; female chorus, 2003); Par les sentiers de lumière (text by Lamine Diakhaté), 8 mixed voices, 1996; Iubilate Deo, mixed chorus, 1997; Die Spokewals (text by Boerneef), 8 mixed voices, 1998 (also version for 8 male voices, 2004); Eden (text by Ida Rousseau), children's/female chorus, 1999; Tu pauperum refugium (texts from the Bible, Latin liturgy), 8/12 children's/female voices, audience, 2000 (also version for 8 mixed voices, audience, 2001); Stabat Mater, 8 mixed voices, 2000; Pie Jesu, mixed chorus, 2001; A sexta autem hora (text from the Bible), 8 mixed voices, 2001; The Eccho (text by Richard Leigh), 6 mixed voices, 2001; How sweet the moonlight (text by William Shakespeare), 8 children's/female voices, 2001; De profundis, male chorus, 2001; Afrika (text by C.M. van den Heever), 6 mixed voices, 2001
CHORAL: My venster is 'n blanke vlak (text by N.P. Van Wyk Louw), soprano, mixed chorus, 2002; Nunc dimittis, mixed chorus, 2002; Hodie Christus natus est, children's/female chorus, 2002 (also versions for children's/female chorus, mixed chorus, 2003; mixed chorus, 2003); Ek wonder of jy soms (text by I.P. Du Plessis), mixed chorus, 2002; Super flumina Babylonis (text from Psalm 137), 6 mixed voices, 2002; Sedoosmusiek (text by Boerneef), mixed chorus, 2003; Die Here is my herder (text from Psalm 23 [Afrikaans translation]), mixed chorus, 2003 (version of Psalm 23); The Healing Prayer (text by Elizabeth Peter-Ross), mixed chorus, audience, 14 strings, 2003 (also shorter version for mixed chorus, audience/congregation, organ, 2003); Sinfonia africana (texts by Eugène N. Marais, D.J. Opperman, C.M. van den Heever), soprano, mixed chorus, orchestra, 2003; A Carol Cantata (texts from the carols Hodie Christus natus est and I Sing of a Maiden, John Attey, D.J. Opperman [English translation]), soprano, mixed chorus, string orchestra, 2004; Die Dans van die Reën (text by Eugène N. Marais), mixed chorus, 2004
VOCAL: Music, when soft voices die... (text by Percy Bysshe Shelley), high/medium voice, piano, 1983 (also version for high/medium voice, violin, viola, cello, 1994); Tre liriche in stilo antico (texts by Giacomo Leopardi, Torquato Tasso, Giuseppe Ungaretti), high voice, piano, 1982-84 (also versions of one section, Quiete, for high voice, violin, piano, 1989; medium voice, cello, piano, 2000; voice, clarinet, piano, 2003; versions of another section, L'infinito, for high voice, violin, piano, 2000; medium voice, cello, piano, 2000; voice, clarinet, piano, 2003; voice, flute, piano, 2003); Drie Gedigte van Elisabeth Eybers, mezzo-soprano/alto, piano, 1977-85; Twee Gedigte van Eugène Marais, high voice, piano, 1978-85; Of Innocence and Experience (text by William Blake), high voice, piano, 1982-85; Tre canzoni (texts by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Giosuè Carducci, Enrico Panzacchi), high/medium voice, piano, 1983-85; Two Songs of Mervyn Peake, high/medium voice, piano, 1985; The Death of Cleopatra (text by William Shakespeare), soprano, flute, alto flute, bass clarinet, French horn, harp, viola, double bass, vibraphone, 1986 (also version for soprano, clarinet, viola, piano, 2004); Alleenstryd (text by S.V. Petersen), high/medium/low voice, piano, 1996; Fragment from 'Prometheus Unbound' (text by Percy Bysshe Shelley), high voice, flute, clarinet, French horn, harp/piano, violin, viola, cello, vibraphone, marimba, 1996; Le bateau ivre (text by Arthur Rimbaud), medium/low voice, flute, French horn, harp, cello, vibraphone (+ tam-tam), 1996
VOCAL: Byzantium (text by William Butler Yeats), soprano/mezzo-soprano/tenor, orchestra, 1997; Of Darkness and the Heart (text by Fiona Zerbst), lyric soprano/mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1999; Ballade van die Bloeddorstige Jagter (text by G.A. Watermeyer), soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, 24 strings, 2000; Gebed om die Gebeente (text by D.J. Opperman), soprano/high mezzo-soprano, flute, cello, piano, 2000; Due sonetti di Petrarca, high voice, soprano recorder/flute, cello, harpsichord/piano, 2000; Psalm 23, soprano/mezzo-soprano/tenor, cello, 2000 (also choral version as Die Here is my herder); Ainsi qu'on oit le cerf bruire (text from Psalm 42 [translated by Louis Bourgeois]), high voice, flute, cello, piano, 2002 (also version with harpsichord instead of piano, 2004); Oda a la bella desnuda (text by Pablo Neruda), soprano/tenor, cello, 2002; Die stil avontuur (song-cycle, text by Elisabeth Eybers [also version in English translation]), soprano, piano, 2003 (also version for mezzo-soprano, piano, 2004); Vier Gebede by Jaargetye in die Boland (text by N.P. Van Wyk Louw), voice, piano, 2004; Nocturne (text by William Shakespeare), mezzo-soprano, baritone, piano, 2004
PIANO: Nag, 1981-83; Die Dans van die Reën, 1985; Alice, 2 pianos, 1998 (version of music from the ballet); Kalunga, 1999; Chaconne, 1999; The Four-Note Waltz, 2 pianos, 2000; Toccata, 2001; Variazioni sopra una mazurka di Chopin, 2002; Notturno, 2003; Sonata for Two Pianos, 2004
ARRANGEMENTS: Uqongqot'hwane (Xhosa traditional), mixed chorus, 1995 (also adapted as part of both works entitled Iingoma); Thula, babana (Xhosa traditional), children's/female chorus, 1999 (also adapted as part of both works entitled Iingoma); Ma, daar kom die jong soldaat (Afrikaans traditional), female chorus, 2001; Dubula (Xhosa traditional), mixed chorus, 2003
DISCOGRAPHY
Immagini da 'Il cielo sopra Berlino'. Maurizio Dino Ciacci/Orchestra Musica '900 (Concorso Internazionale di Composizione Trento Cinema – La Colonna Sonora/Ricordi: SMRL 6396, 1988)
Raptus. Andrew Haveron, violin; Marc Soustrot/Koninklijke Filharmonie van Vlaanderen (Cyprès: CYP 9306, 1997)
Kalunga. Ju Jin, piano (BMG Records Africa: CDCLA [LF] 003, 2000)
Chaconne. Grethe Nöthling, piano (Muzik Front, 2000)
Die Spokewals; Uqongqot'hwane; Thula, babana. André van der Merwe/Pro Cantu (Pro Cantu, 2000)
Incantesimo (original version). Merryl Neille, flute (University of Pretoria Music Department: CSO502, 2001)
Pie Jesu. Leon Starker/SA College of Music Choir (Pasmae: CDPASMAE001, 2002)
A sexta autem hora. University of Pretoria Camerata (Prospect Tonstudio: GEMA 00122, 2002)
Ainsi qu'on oit le cerf bruire; Requiem (excerpts). Sanet Allen, Marianne Serfontein, sopranos; Suzanne Erasmus, alto; Stephen Carletti, tenor; Timothy Visser, bass; Marietjie Pauw, flute; Anmari van der Westhuizen, cello; Bennie van Eeden, piano (Sunset Recording Studios/Huguenot Foundation of South Africa, 2002)
Concerto per flauto e orchestra; Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra; Iingoma (second orchestral version). Helen Vosloo, flute; François du Toit, piano; Emmanuel Siffert/National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa (Distell Foundation for the Performing Arts: CDX02/002, 2002)
Of Innocence and Experience (sections The sick rose and A cradle song); Twee Gedigte van Eugène Marais (section Winternag); Tre liriche in stilo antico (section L'infinito [version for voice, flute, piano]); Oda a la bella desnuda (section 2); Due sonetti di Petrarca (section Zefiro torna). Julia Bronkhorst, soprano; Paula van Delden, flute; Rebecca Smit, cello; Jacco Lamfers, piano (Q DISC: Q 97042, 2003)
(Last updated on January 6, 2005)
