Hubert du PlessisOMSG (7 June 1922 – 12 March 2011) was a South African composer, pianist, and professor of music whose career spanned several decades. Along with Arnold van Wyk and Stefans Grové, du Plessis was one of the foremost South African composers of the 20th century.
Hubert du Plessis was born to an Afrikaner family on a farm called Groenrivier in Malmesbury in the Western Cape on 7 June 1922. A musical prodigy from a young age, he began writing his own piano compositions by the time he was seven years old. In 1940 he enrolled in Stellenbosch University, becoming the first student at the university to graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree.
In 1943 he briefly worked for the South African Broadcasting Company in Cape Town, but soon after accepted a position with the department of music at Rhodes University, where he became a lecturer. From 1951 to 1954, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and upon his return to South Africa he accepted a teaching position at Stellenbosch University, quickly becoming senior lecturer of the music department. In 1963 he was honored for his musical contributions by the South African Academy of Science and Art (commonly known as Die Akademie).
Du Plessis' compositions were varied and included both choral and instrumental pieces. He is noted for his contributions to both South African chamber music and orchestral music. Initially opposed to the idea, du Plessis included Afrikaans folk music in some of his later compositions. In the 1960s, he composed some nationalist works, which were endorsed by the National Party government, which he actively supported.[1] He attributed his nationalistic music to a "growing consciousness" of his Afrikaner heritage, and therefore was not opposed to his music being used for political purposes.[2]
Despite the strict laws against homosexuality in Apartheid South Africa, du Plessis was spared public disgrace and legal troubles by the government, and lived unashamedly as an outspoken and openly gay man. He appeared in front of the South African Parliament to campaign against tightening of anti-homosexuality laws in the late 1960s.[3]
He died at his home in Stellenbosch on 12 March 2011 at the age of 88.
Sonate vir klavierduet, op. 10, 1954 "Composed for H. Ferguson and D. Matthews"
Cunctipotens genitor Deus, fantasie oor 'n 11de-eeuse organum, 1956
Prelude, fuga en postludium, op. 17, 1958
Sewe preludes, op. 18, 1964
Inspiré par mes chats, suite, op. 27. (1. Déplotarion sur la mort de Dodo, 2. L'allégresse et la sagesse de Josquin, 3. Les petits pas amoureux de Tristan, 4. La tendresse d'Isolde, 5. Gaspard et sa souris, pas de deux, 6. Tombeau de Joséphine)
Vier klavierstukke, op. 28 in opdrag van UNISA, 1964 (1. Hommage à Fauré, 2. Hommage à Ravel, 3. Hommage à Chopin, 4. Hommage à François Couperin)
When I was a child-Toe ek 'n kind was, suite, op. 33, 1972 (1. Speeldoos, 2. Die tjellis, 3. Vleivolk, 4. Klawerliefde, 5. Rivierdroom, 6. Die skool sluit, 7. Kaleidoskoop, 8. Naggeluide)
Sonate no. 2, op. 40, in opdrag van SAMRO, 1974-1975.
Tien klavierwerke vir kinders en jongmense, op. 41, 1975 (Afd. I (vir kinders): 1. Heimwee van 'n Amerikaanse teddiebeer, 2. Angus en oom Koos maak maats, 3. Wispelturige Wilhelmina, 4. Ouboet en Kleinboet voel olik, 5. In die pretpark Afd. II (vir jongmense): 6. Hartseerwals, 7. Kwêla, 8. Mars, 9. Studie, 10. Scherzo)
Harpedit
Variasies op 'n volkswysie, vir harpsolo, op. 31, 1967-1968
Chamber musicedit
Strykkwartet, op. 13, 1957
Trio vir klavier, viool en tjello, op. 20, for the SABC, 1957-1960
Drie stukke vir fluit en klavier, op. 25, 1962-1963 (1. Sarabande, 2. Wals, 3. Wiegelied)
Vier antieke danse vir fluit en klavesimbel, op. 35 (1. Siciliano, 2. Tambourin, 3. Sarabande, 4. Gigue)
Sonate vir altviool en klavier, op. 43, 1977
Orchestraledit
Simfonie in a, op. 14, 1953-1954
Musiek by drie skilderye van Henri Rousseau, op. 24, for the SABC, 1962 (1. Un soir de carnaval, 2. Pour fêter le bébé, 3. Le rêve)
Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, for the SABC, 1960
Vallée d'Obermann (Liszt) 1961
Drie outas het in die haai Karoo, for the SABC, 1973
Other musicedit
Huberta the hippo (hoorbeeld deur Cecil Jubber), 1960
Periandos van Korinte (Opperman), 1972
Referencesedit
^Denis Martin (2013). Sounding the Cape: Music, Identity and Politics in South Africa. African Minds. ISBN978-1-920489-82-3.
^Chris Walton; Stephanus Muller (1 May 2005). Gender and Sexuality in South African Music. African Sun Media. ISBN978-1-919980-40-9.
^James May (2011) Obituary – Hubert du Plessis, Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa, 8:1, 115-116, DOI: 10.2989/18121004.2011.652401
April 15, 2024
hubert, plessis, omsg, june, 1922, march, 2011, south, african, composer, pianist, professor, music, whose, career, spanned, several, decades, along, with, arnold, stefans, grové, plessis, foremost, south, african, composers, 20th, century, background, informa. Hubert du Plessis OMSG 7 June 1922 12 March 2011 was a South African composer pianist and professor of music whose career spanned several decades Along with Arnold van Wyk and Stefans Grove du Plessis was one of the foremost South African composers of the 20th century Hubert du PlessisBackground informationBirth nameHubert Lawrence du PlessisBorn 1922 06 07 7 June 1922Malmesbury Cape Province Union of South AfricaDied12 March 2011 2011 03 12 aged 88 Stellenbosch Western Cape Republic of South AfricaYears active1943 1991 Contents 1 Biography 2 Works by genre 2 1 Piano 2 2 Harp 2 3 Chamber music 2 4 Orchestral 2 5 Other music 3 ReferencesBiography editHubert du Plessis was born to an Afrikaner family on a farm called Groenrivier in Malmesbury in the Western Cape on 7 June 1922 A musical prodigy from a young age he began writing his own piano compositions by the time he was seven years old In 1940 he enrolled in Stellenbosch University becoming the first student at the university to graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree In 1943 he briefly worked for the South African Broadcasting Company in Cape Town but soon after accepted a position with the department of music at Rhodes University where he became a lecturer From 1951 to 1954 he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and upon his return to South Africa he accepted a teaching position at Stellenbosch University quickly becoming senior lecturer of the music department In 1963 he was honored for his musical contributions by the South African Academy of Science and Art commonly known as Die Akademie Du Plessis compositions were varied and included both choral and instrumental pieces He is noted for his contributions to both South African chamber music and orchestral music Initially opposed to the idea du Plessis included Afrikaans folk music in some of his later compositions In the 1960s he composed some nationalist works which were endorsed by the National Party government which he actively supported 1 He attributed his nationalistic music to a growing consciousness of his Afrikaner heritage and therefore was not opposed to his music being used for political purposes 2 Despite the strict laws against homosexuality in Apartheid South Africa du Plessis was spared public disgrace and legal troubles by the government and lived unashamedly as an outspoken and openly gay man He appeared in front of the South African Parliament to campaign against tightening of anti homosexuality laws in the late 1960s 3 He died at his home in Stellenbosch on 12 March 2011 at the age of 88 Works by genre editPiano edit Vier klavierstukke op 1 1944 1945 1 Prelude 2 Studie 3 Elegie 4 Dans Ses minature op 3 1945 1949 Sonate no 1 op 8 1952 Sonate vir klavierduet op 10 1954 Composed for H Ferguson and D Matthews Cunctipotens genitor Deus fantasie oor n 11de eeuse organum 1956 Prelude fuga en postludium op 17 1958 Sewe preludes op 18 1964 Inspire par mes chats suite op 27 1 Deplotarion sur la mort de Dodo 2 L allegresse et la sagesse de Josquin 3 Les petits pas amoureux de Tristan 4 La tendresse d Isolde 5 Gaspard et sa souris pas de deux 6 Tombeau de Josephine Vier klavierstukke op 28 in opdrag van UNISA 1964 1 Hommage a Faure 2 Hommage a Ravel 3 Hommage a Chopin 4 Hommage a Francois Couperin When I was a child Toe ek n kind was suite op 33 1972 1 Speeldoos 2 Die tjellis 3 Vleivolk 4 Klawerliefde 5 Rivierdroom 6 Die skool sluit 7 Kaleidoskoop 8 Naggeluide Sonate no 2 op 40 in opdrag van SAMRO 1974 1975 Tien klavierwerke vir kinders en jongmense op 41 1975 Afd I vir kinders 1 Heimwee van n Amerikaanse teddiebeer 2 Angus en oom Koos maak maats 3 Wispelturige Wilhelmina 4 Ouboet en Kleinboet voel olik 5 In die pretpark Afd II vir jongmense 6 Hartseerwals 7 Kwela 8 Mars 9 Studie 10 Scherzo Harp edit Variasies op n volkswysie vir harpsolo op 31 1967 1968Chamber music edit Strykkwartet op 13 1957 Trio vir klavier viool en tjello op 20 for the SABC 1957 1960 Drie stukke vir fluit en klavier op 25 1962 1963 1 Sarabande 2 Wals 3 Wiegelied Vier antieke danse vir fluit en klavesimbel op 35 1 Siciliano 2 Tambourin 3 Sarabande 4 Gigue Sonate vir altviool en klavier op 43 1977Orchestral edit Simfonie in a op 14 1953 1954 Musiek by drie skilderye van Henri Rousseau op 24 for the SABC 1962 1 Un soir de carnaval 2 Pour feter le bebe 3 Le reve Die Stem van Suid Afrika for the SABC 1960 Vallee d Obermann Liszt 1961 Drie outas het in die haai Karoo for the SABC 1973Other music edit Huberta the hippo hoorbeeld deur Cecil Jubber 1960 Periandos van Korinte Opperman 1972References edit Denis Martin 2013 Sounding the Cape Music Identity and Politics in South Africa African Minds ISBN 978 1 920489 82 3 Chris Walton Stephanus Muller 1 May 2005 Gender and Sexuality in South African Music African Sun Media ISBN 978 1 919980 40 9 James May 2011 Obituary Hubert du Plessis Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa 8 1 115 116 DOI 10 2989 18121004 2011 652401 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hubert du Plessis amp oldid 1218343088, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
