LEWENSIKLUS

1. DISTRICT SIX

The First song in a set of nine, this song is based on lyrics by R.K. Belcher (1933-2006). The poem reflects on life in District Six and the travesties that are commonplace in their world, how easily one shrugged of tragedy in that time. Just a natural course of life.

2. HUWELIK

The Second song is based on words by olga Kirsch and reflects on the bonds of marriage and the development of a family and how those bonds are warped differently to what one anticipates.

3. ELEMENTERE HUIS

Elementere Huis is the third song in the Lewensiklus and uses the text by D.P.M. Botes. The texts reflects on two people building a home together through the eyes of one person, and how all those things change when the other person is no longer there.

4. EENSAAMHEID

Eensaamheid is the fourth song in the song cycle and uses the text by Jan F.E. Celliers. The text focusses on someone being alone, likely out in a desert. The music is flowing and accompaniment creates ripples of sounds to a quiet yet flowing lyrical line.

5. STERREWIGGELAAR

Sterrewiggelaar is a poem by Phil du Plessis and is the text for the fifth song of my cycle. Here I use atonal ideas and use a 12-tone base as the groundwork for a rather unsettling text about a man reminiscing about his relationship, and perhaps closer to his ex than one should be.

6. KATRINA

Katrina is the sixth song in the cycle and uses the text by I.D du Plessis. The test speaks of Katrina who is a prostitue in the BoKaap and how she wishes upon another life, but knows what her life is and accepts it. The music is flowing and litlting, perhaps more reminiscent of what could be rather than focussing on the bleak reality.

7. VROEE MIS

Vroee mis, with text by Fanie Olivier, is a macabre metaphor for perhaps having too many lovers and children and them coming to bite you later in life. The metaphor uses toes in maizena as a reference. The music then tries to further suggest a certain vulgairty to the poem by using accaciaturas and a litling march that darkly supports th theme.

8. DIEPRIVIER

Probably the most famous poem by an Afrikaans poet, Dieprivier, by Eugene Marais, is a dark journey distantly describing the poets addiction to heroin. The poem has been set by many composers and I have opted to rather imitate the rush one would imagine while the drug courses through your veins. The accompaniment is challenging and the vocal part hugely dramatic.

9. WINTERSLAAP

Winterslaap by Wilma Stockenstrôm is a poem about the winter of our life and eventually, your death. Since the cycle is meant to embrace different aspects of life, it seems apt to close the cycle with a piece aout passing away. The poem speaks of cotton embracing one as snow does, and so the music also is simplified and basic, with lots of silemce immitating the gentle voice of snow.