Hendrik Hofmeyr

Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr (born 20 November 1957) is a South African composer.^[1][2][3] Born in Cape Town, he furthered his studies in Italy during 10 years of self-imposed exile as a conscientious objector. While there, he won the South African Opera Competition with The Fall of the House of Usher. He also received the annual Nederburg Prize for Opera for this work subsequent to its performance at the State Theatre in Pretoria in 1988. In the same year, he obtained first prize in an international competition in Italy with music for a short film by Wim Wenders. He returned to South Africa in 1992, and in 1997 won two major international composition competitions, the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition of Belgium (with 'Raptus' for violin and orchestra) and the first edition of the Dimitris Mitropoulos Competition in Athens (with 'Byzantium' for high voice and orchestra). His 'Incantesimo' for solo flute was selected to represent South Africa at the ISCM World Music Days in Croatia in 2005. In 2008 he was honoured with a Kanna award by the Kleinkaroo National Arts Festival. He is currently Professor and Head of Composition and Theory at the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town, where he obtained a DMus in 1999.

Hofmeyr has completed more than a hundred commissioned works for, amongst others, the British duo Nettle&Markham, the Hogarth Quartet, the Vancouver Recital Society, the Latvian youth choir Kamēr, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, the South African Music Rights Organisation, the Foundation for the Creative Arts and the Cape Performing Arts Board. His oeuvre includes 6 operas, 2 ballets, 11 concertos and other orchestral works, 2 string quartets and other chamber and instrumental works, and many choral and solo vocal works.

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, 2 percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 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, 2 percussion, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1989 (rev. 2010)
• 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, percussion, string quartet, double bass, 2001
• Saartjie (1-act opera, libretto by the composer), soprano, chorus, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon (+ contrabassoon), 4 timpani, 3 percussion, French horn, trumpet, trombone, strings (3.3.3.2.2), 2009

Orchestral

• Immagini da 'Il cielo sopra Berlino', small orchestra (21 players), 1988
• Alice, large orchestra, 1996 (suite from ballet)
• Raptus, violin, orchestra, 1997
• Ingoma, 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
• Umkulo Wemvula (Rainmusic), 2001
• Concerto for flute, violin and string orchestra, 2002
• Concerto for two pianos and orchestra, 2004
• Concerto for cello and orchestra, 2006
• Preludio and Umsindo, 2007
• Concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra, 2010
• Concerto for baritone saxophone and orchestra, 2010
• Kasi – An introduction to the orchestra, 2011
• Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, 2012
• Concerto for Flute, Harp and Strings, 2012 (also version for flute, harp and string quintet, 2012)
• Concerto for Recorder, Harpsichord and Strings, 2012

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 versions for violin, viola, cello, piano, 2003; for 6 cellos, 2003)
• First String Quartet, 1998
• Ingoma, 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 (also version for flute, harp, 2005)
• Tango dell'amarezza, cello, double bass, 2004 (also versions for cello, piano, 2005; double bass, piano, 2005)
• Crucifixus, cello, organ, 2004
• Variations on a Chorale, flute, organ, 2005
• Second String Quartet, 2006
• Sonata for horn and piano, 2006
• Sonata for flute and piano, 2006 (also version for violin, piano, 2008)
• Variations on an African Lullaby, violin (or flute or cello), 2007
• Lachrymae, guitar, 2007
• Rapsodia notturna, guitar, piano, 2007
• Endymion and the Moon, violin, harp, 2008
• Trio, violin, cello, piano, 2008
• Sonata I for violin and piano, 2008
• Il giardino delle Esperidi, 5 flutes, alto flute, bass flute
• Lied van die Somerwind (Song of the Summer Wind), flute, violin, 2009
• Canto notturno, clarinet piano, 2010
• Mabalêl – Fantasia on the poem by Eugène Marais, flute, piano, 2010
• Trio, flute (or violin), clarinet (or viola or cello), piano, 2010
• Tango languido, lever harp, 2010
• Umlolozelo, guitar, 2010
• Hartbreekrivier and Umsindo, vibraphone, marimba, 2010
• Trio II, flute (violin), clarinet (viola/cello), piano, 2011
• Elegia, flute, harp, 2011
• 5 Chorale Preludes, organ, 2011
• Diablerie, viola, guitar, 2012

Piano

• Nag, 1981–83
• Die Dans van die Reën, 1985
• Four Pieces from Alice, 2 pianos, 1998 (version of music from the ballet)
• Chaconne, 1999
• The Four-Note Waltz, 2 pianos, 2000
• Toccata, 2001
• Variations on a Mazurka of Chopin, 2002
• Notturno, 2003
• Sonata for Two Pianos, 2004
• March of the Lilliputians, 2006
• Partita africana (Preludio, Umsindo, River of Sorrow, Kalunga), 1999–2006
• Prelude, 2009
• Sonata, 2011

Choral

• Liederwysgesange (text by Boerneef), mixed choir, piano, 1983
• Sound the Flute! (text by William Blake), mixed choir, piano, 1985–86
• Sweet was the Song (text by John Attey), mixed choir, 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, chorus, 1988
• Requiem, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed choir, 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), mixed choir, 1996
• Iubilate Deo, mixed choir, 1997
• Die Spokewals (text by Boerneef), mixed choir, 1998 (also version for 8 male voices, 2004)
• Eden (text by Ida Rousseau), equal voices, 1999
• Tu pauperum refugium (texts from the Bible, Latin liturgy), double treble choir, audience, 2000 (also version for double mixed choir, audience, 2001)
• Stabat Mater, mixed choir, 2000
• Pie Jesu, mixed choir, 2001
• A sexta autem hora (text from the Bible), mixed choir, 2001
• The Eccho (text by Richard Leigh), 6 mixed voices, 2001
• How sweet the moonlight (text by William Shakespeare), equal voices, 2001
• De profundis, male chorus, 2001
• Afrika (text by C. M. van den Heever), mixed choir, 2001
• My venster is 'n blanke vlak (text by N.P. Van Wyk Louw), soprano, mixed choir, 2002
• Nunc dimittis, mixed choir, 2002
• Hodie Christus natus est, equal voices, 2002 (also versions for treble choir, mixed choir, 2003; mixed choir, 2003)
• Ek wonder of jy soms (text by I.P. Du Plessis), mixed choir, 2002
• Super flumina Babylonis (text from Psalm 137), mixed choir, 2002
• Sedoosmusiek (text by Boerneef), mixed choir, 2003
• Die Here is my herder (text from Psalm 23 [Afrikaans translation]), mixed choir, 2003
• 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 choir, 2004
• Winternag (text by Eugène Marais), mixed choir, 2005
• Psalm 103 (text from Psalm 103 [Afrikaans translation]), mixed choir, 2006
• Lawaaimusiek (text by Boerneef), mixed choir, 2006
• By jonasdrif se sekelgat (text by Boerneef), mixed choir, 2006
• Batter my heart (text by John Donne), mixed choir, 2007
• The Birth of Orc (text from "The Four Zoas" by William Blake), mixed choir, 2007
• Mabalêl (text by Eugène Marais), equal voices, 2007
• Saulus in Damascum (text from Acts of the Apostles), mixed choir, 2007
• Desert Sun (text by the composer, based on Bushman legends), mixed choir, 2007
• In lumine tuo (text from Latin liturgy), mixed choir, 2007
• Lied van !Kò (text by the composer, based on Bushman songs), mixed choir, 2007
• Rut (text from the Bible), treble choir, 2008
• Kaljanner kaljanner (text by George Weideman), treble choir, 2008
• Genesis (text from the Bible), mixed choir, 2009
• Horie petryse ennie fisane (text by Boerneef), mixed choir, 2010
• Psalm 148 (text from the Bible), mixed choir, 2010
• Kom ons prys die Heer se naam (text by the composer), treble choir, piano, 2010
• Gloria (text from Latin liturgy), mixed choir, 2010
• Jankemalanke Langklaasfranke (text by Boerneef), equal voices, 2011
• Juig, al wat leef (text from Psalm 100 [Afrikaans translation]), equal voices, piano, 2011
• Bont konsertina laans die watervoor (text by Boerneef), mixed choir, 2011 (also version for mixed chorus, piano, 2012)
• A Song for St. Cecilia's Day (text by John Dryden), mixed choir, 2012
• Magnificat (text from Latin liturgy), mixed choir, 2012

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), 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
• 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 (also versions for soprano, piano, 2002; soprano, string quartet, 2005)
• 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 à 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 (song-cycle, text by N.P. Van Wyk Louw), voice, piano, 2004
• Nocturne (text by William Shakespeare), mezzo-soprano, baritone, piano, 2004; en skielik is dit aand (song-cycle, text by Wilhelm Knobel), voice, piano, 2005
• Ode to the West Wind (text by Percy Bysshe Shelley), high voice, orchestra, 2006
• Nog in my laaste woorde (text by N.P. Van Wyk Louw), voice, piano, 2006;
• Dover Beach (text by Matthew Arnold), high voice, flute, cello, piano, 2007
• Wynverse (song-cycle, text by Hennie van Coller), high/medium voice, piano, 2009
• Die moeder (text by Elisabeth Eybers), soprano/mezzo, piano, 2009
• Ek maak 'n hek oop in my hart (song-cycle, text by Uys Krige), high/medium voice, piano, 2010
• Place me like a seal upon your heart (text from the Bible), soprano, bass, flute, organ, 2010
• Geluk (text by Uys Krige), voice, piano, 2011
• Diptych (texts by Pablo Neruda and Constantine Cavafy), high voice, flute, clarinet, string quartet, piano, 2011

Arrangements

• Uqongqot'hwane (Xhosa traditional), mixed chorus, 1995 (also adapted as part of both works entitled Ingoma)
• Thula, babana (Xhosa traditional), children's/female chorus, 1999 (also adapted as part of both works entitled Ingoma)
• Ma, daar kom die jong soldaat (Afrikaans traditional), female chorus, 2001
• Dubula (Xhosa traditional), mixed chorus, 2003
• Three African Songs, contralto, chamber orchestra, 2005
• Al lê die berge nog so blou (Afrikaans traditional), mixed chorus, violin, 2009
• Vaarwel my eie soetelief (Afrikaans traditional), mixed chorus, 2009
• Daar kom die Alibama (Afrikaans traditional), mixed chorus, 2009
• Thula, thu (Xhosa traditional), soprano, piano, 2011
• 4 Chorales, mixed chorus and/or organ, 2011

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; Ingoma (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)
• Tu pauperum refugium (original version). Hennie Loock/Tygerberg Children's Choir, Odawara Children's Choir (Japan), Moram Choir (Israel), Newfoundland Youth Symphony Choir Cape (Tygerberg Children's Choir, 2002)
• How sweet the moonlight. André van der Merwe/ Stellenberg Girls Choir (Stellenberg Girls Choir, 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 à 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)
• Sweet was the Song. Hennie Loock/Tygerberg Children's Choir (Tygerberg Children's Choir 2003)
• Hodie Christus natus est (original version). Hennie Loock/Tygerberg Children's Choir, 30th anniversary re-union choir (Tygerberg Children's Choir, 2005 )
• Sinfonia africana for soprano, choir and orchestra. Lesley Dunner/Sabina Mossolow, soprano, Stellenbosch University Choir, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, 2005)
• Uqongqot'hwane; Die Dans van die Reën. André van der Merwe/Stellenbosch University Choir (Stellenbosch University Choir, 2005)
• Die Dans van die Reën. Gérard'd du Toit /KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir. (KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir, 2005)
• Hodie Christus natus est (version for treble choir), Thula babana. André van der Merwe/Stellenberg Girls Choir (Stellenberg Girls Choir, 2005)
• Tango dal balletto Alice. I Grandi Violoncellisti (Cello Classics: CC1019, 2006)
• Sonata per corno e pianoforte. Shannon Armer, horn, Sandra Kettle, piano (South African Horn Society, 2006)
• Pie Jesu. Johann van der Sandt/ Singkronies Choir (Prospect Tonstudio: Gema 00174, 2006)
• Super flumina Babylonis. Johann van der Sandt/University of Pretoria Camerata (Prospect Tonstudio: Gema 00175, 2006)
• Of Innocence and experience; Tre liriche in stile antico; Tre canzoni; en skielik is dit aand; Die stil avontuur; Vier gebede by jaargetye in die Boland. Zanne Stapelberg, soprano, André Howard, baritone, Hendrik Hofmeyr, piano. (CDExpress, 2007)
• Notturno elegiaco. Trio Hemanay (Classic FM: HEM01, 2007)
• Die Dans van die Reën. Andrea Martinjak/Ljubljanski Madrigalisti (Sazas, 2007)
• Desert Sun. Maris Sirmais/Kamēr… (Kamēr…, 2008)
• Batter my Heart. Leon Starker/Pro cantu. (PC07, 2008)
• Mon amie, tu me suivras from Par les Sentiers de lumière, Pie Jesu. Arthur Sjögren/Pro Arte Singers (Candlewood Digital: PAS 3604)
• Winternag, Nog in my laaste woorde. Vanessa Tait-Jones, soprano, André Howard, baritone, Elna van der Merwe, piano (Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University and SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, 2010).
• Ainsi qu’on oit le cerf bruire. Melissa Manseau, soprano, Jennifer Yeaton-Paris, flute, Beth Pearson, cello, Paul Dykstra, piano (Navona Records: NV5827, 2010)
• Concerto per flauto, violino e orchestra d’archi. Raffaele Trevisani, flute, Piet Koornhof, violin), Constantine Orbelian/Moscow Chamber Orchestra (Delos: DE 3399, 2010)
• It takes two .... Hemanay Trio (Johannesburg: HEM002, 2010)
• Kaljanner Kaljanner, Thula, babana. Hennie Loock/Tygerberg Children's Choir (Cape Town: 2011)
• The Healing Prayer. Arthur Sjögren/Pro Arte Singers, Michael Burnette, organ (Candlewood Digital: PAS 3801, 2011)
• Il poeta e l’usignolo. Liesl Stoltz, flute, Jacqueline Kerrod, harp. (Cape Town: 2011)
• Incantesimo. Marietjie Pauw, flute. (Stellenbosch, 2012)
• Canto notturno. Maria du Toit, clarinet, Nina Schumann, piano. (Two Pianists Records: TP1039145, 2012)

References

External links

• Dictionary of African Composers