- Bongani Ndodana-Breen
Bongani Ndodana-Breen is a
South Africa n-borncomposer ,musician and cultural activist. He was born in 1975 in Queenstown, South Africa and is a member of theXhosa clan. He is often referred to by hisXhosa paternal ancestral name or "isiduko ",Rhadebe . He was educated at St. Andrew's College andRhodes University inGrahamstown and studied composition inStellenbosch under Roelof Temmingh.In 1998 Ndodana-Breen was the first Black classical composer to be awarded the prestigious
Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Music, by theNational Arts Festival and sponsored byStandard Bank of South Africa . [ [http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/mg/art/reviews/97nov/20nov-stdbank.html Mail&Guardian: Bright young things ] ]His music is a blend of African and classical styles. Some of his pieces reflect on various scenes from his native Xhosa culture (such as "Hintsa's Dances", which is based on the life of Paramount Chief
Hintsa ka Khawuta , "Apologia at Umzimvubu" and "Sons of The Great Tree").He has received commissions from across the globe from the
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra , theMiller Theatre of New York, [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/arts/music/23port.html Bongani Ndodana - Review - Music - New York Times ] ]Vancouver Recital Society ,Madame Walker Theatre ,Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra ,Ensemble Noir /MusicaNoir ,BodyVox dance company,Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO) , National Arts Council, The Emancipation Festival of Trinidad & Tobago andWigmore Hall , London.He has written operas, orchestral and chamber works, including the controversial opera "The Passion of Winnie" in collaboration with filmmaker
Warren Wilensky , based on anti-apartheid activistWinnie Madikizela-Mandela .Ndodana-Breen is also an advocate for cultural diversity and various African efforts. He is based in
Toronto ,Canada .Notable works
*"Orange Clouds" - music by Ndodana-Breen and libretto by filmmaker
John Greyson .
*"The Passion of Winnie" - libretto by Warren Wilensky.
*"Uhambo/The Pilgrimage" - opera/oratorio based on the epic poem by Guy Butler
*"African Kaddish" for orchestra
*"Rituals for Forgotten Faces" - a chamber music cycle in 6 partsReferences
External links
* [http://www.musicanoir.org/ Musica Noir official site]
* [http://www.geocities.com/bonganin_99/ Bongani Ndodana-Breen official site]
* [http://www.chico.mweb.co.za/art/2007/2007june/070608-winnie.html "Singing Winnie in Toronto"] by Brent Meersman, "Mail & Guardian"
* [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070611.wwinnie11/BNStory/luminato/home "Where's the passion"] by Kamal Al-Solaylee "Globe and Mail"
* [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20060513.ORANGE13%2FTPStory%2F%3Fquery%3DBongani%2BNdodana-Breen&ord=143311867&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true "Nifty ideas prove elusive to net"] by Robert Everett-Green "Globe and Mail"
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