Isak Roux

(b.Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 4 April 1959)

Born and bred in KwaZulu-Natal, South African born German composer Isak Roux studied at the then University of Natal where he obtained a BMus and, in 1988, his MMus in Composition with the dissertation "Local music: Exploring the technical possibilities for establishing a South African compositional style". This study was conducted under the supervision of Jürgen Bräuniger and the internationally acclaimed composer Kevin Volans.

In 1989 he relocated to Germany, taking classes in composition with Ulrich Süsse at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart, where, since 1991, he has been teaching at the Waldorf School Uhlandshöhe.

Roux's work as a composer, arranger and pianist (both solo and ensemble) started while he was at university. Musical direction of productions such as "Wakeman", "Wakeman 2" and "With a little help from my friends" followed.

Increasingly, he added choral composition and conducting to his list of musical activities.

Resident in Europe, Roux has participated in musical festivals such as the Tonkünstlerfest (Baden-Württemberg, 1990 and 1993) and the International Composers' Workshop (Amsterdam, 1996). In 1999, he delivered a lecture-recital for the Stuttgart German-American Society on South African (township) jazz.

Roux's commitment to African musical forms, rhythms and instrumentation has, however, remained central to his creative vision.

In his career he has composed syncretically in avant-garde, post-avant-garde and contemporary classical styles (so-called new music), with his music regularly being performed in Germany, South Africa, the UK and the USA.

As an arranger he has become especially well known for his arrangements of South African music (traditional Afrikaans, Cape-Malay and Zulu–for piano, ensemble and voice).

Over the past few years his musical association with the music organisation MIAGI, as well as super groups Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Kwela Tebza has brought him wider recognition as both composer and arranger, in both South Africa and abroad.

COMPOSITIONS

STAGE"Ritual": Modern ballet/dance music, choreography by Paul Douglas. Two pianos. 1997

ORCHESTRAL"Intrada Africana": small orchestra. 2005;"Kwela Concerto": four penny whistles, string orchestra and percussion. 2004 (commissioned)

CHAMBER MUSIC"Music for Tenor Saxophone and Piano": 1981;"Composition for String Quartet": 1981;"Songs of the Urban Wanderer": violin and harp. 1987;"Iculo lezingane": piano, vibraphone/marimba, percussion, cello. 1987;"Landscape": trombone, tape, 1995;"lines, fragments, machines": violin, synthesizer, percussion, tape. 1996, revised 1998;"Sketches": flute, marimba. 1997;"Four African Scenes", flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon. 1999; (commissioned);"Balafo (Études in African Rhythm)": two marimbas. 1999;"Kleine Chronik": clarinet, piano, 1999;"Prime Cuts: Zwei Konstruktionen": oboe, cello. 1999 (commissioned);"Tekweni Suite": saxophone quartet. 2003 (commissioned);"Diepkloof Groove": saxophone quartet. 2007 (commissioned).

CHORAL"Dona nobis pacem": soprano, alto, tenor, bass (SATB), flute, double bass, percussion, piano. 1986;"Missa Brevis": boys’ chorus (SSA), flute, cello, harpsichord, two African drums. 1991 (commissioned);"Coming Home": (multilingual; original text by Johann P. Boshoff), speaker, soprano, lyrical tenor, baritone, choir, string orchestra, jazz band, African percussion, 2008 (commissioned).

SOLO VOCAL"Verbeeldingsvlug": Text by Johann P. Boshoff. Solo voice. 1985;"Die ou vrou se lied": Text by Johann P. Boshoff. Solo voice. 1985;"Stations" (The Way of the Cross) (multilingual, original text by Johann P. Boshoff), bass, speaker, string quartet, piano, harpsichord, percussion, 2002

PIANO"Music for Two Pianists". 1983;"Ritual: Dance for Two Pianos". 1997;"Preludes in African Rhythm". 1992-2000 ;"Home". 2000;"In Thy Presence". 2001;"Penny Whistle Song". 2001;"Five South African Ragtimes". 2001;"Piano Afrika Songs", 2001;"Siyabonga". 2002;"African Miniatures: Music for young pianists". 2004;"Dr Kwela–Mr Ragtime", 2006 (commissioned).

ARRANGEMENTS / ADAPTATIONS"Izintombi zaseKwatazi": Traditional Zulu. SATB. Undated;"Tischlied": Text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and music Maxilian Eberwein. SATB, piano. 1986;"Walil' untwana": Original melody by Welcome Duru. SATB. 1986;"Mit Lieb bin ich umfangen": Original by Johann Steuerlein. SATB. 1986;"Tant' Hessie & Volkies": Traditional Afrikaans. SAB. 1986;Twelve (12) songs for Ladysmith Black Mambazo: arrangements for male voices and chamber orchestra, 2003 (commissioned);"Some Night Music", adaptations of three works by Mozart for four penny whistles, string orchestra, percussion and rhythm section, 2004 (commissioned);"Agnus Dei", baritone/mezzo soprano with piano and clarinet, 2006 revision of 1988 composition;"Watermelon Song": saxophone quartet, vibraphone, bass guitar and percussion. 2007;"Dona nobis pacem", new adaptation for ladies choir, piano and clarinet, 2007 (commissioned);"Cape Medley" (in Afrikaans, of “Boegoeberg se dam” and “Saai die waatlemoen”), children’s choir and piano, 2007 (commissioned).

DISCOGRAPHY

COMMERCIAL"Four African Scenes" on "News for Woodwinds". Domus Quintet (Dolphin, 1999);"African Journal" (various pieces). (Mp3.com, 2000);"Eine Hand voll Erde" (various pieces). Isak Roux on piano (self-released, 2000), First Composer’s Portrait Concert in Stuttgart;"Piano Afrika: Isak Roux plays traditional folk songs". Isak Roux, piano (Rhythm Records, 2001);"Piano Afrika 2: Honky Tonk Solo". Isak Roux, piano (self-released, GEMA, 2002);“Township Guitar” (from "Preludes in African Rhythm"). Peter von Wienhardt, piano (Edition Musikat, 2002);John Outland Christmas Chorale, 2004 (also DVD);"Tekweni Suite" on "We are not alone". Saxofourte, (BMG Ariola Classics, 2004);"No Boundaries". Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Isak Roux–producer, arranger, composer and pianist (Heads Up International HUCD 3092, 2005), nominated for Grammy Award in category Best World Music Album in February 2006.

ARCHIVE RECORDINGS"Ritual: Dance for Two Pianos". Private recording, Stuttgart. 2002;"Stations", Stuttgart, 19 April 2002 (première), bass: Friedemann Lutz and "Home", "Balafo", and "Mopani", 2002, the Second Composer’s Portrait Concert in Stuttgart;"Stations", Bloemfontein, August 2002 (South African première), bass: Vuyani Mlinde.

PERFORMANCESAnnually, since 1996, as pianist with John Outland’s Christmas Chorale or his other events in Germany;April & August 2002: Pianist in "Stations";November 2002: Two jamming sessions with the late Jake “Big Voice” Lerole in the ICMF Heritage Concerts in Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa;November 2003: Première of 12 songs featured on the CD No Boundaries performed with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the English Chamber Orchestra and players from the ICMF Orchestra–Roux on piano;April 2005: Third Composer’s Portrait Concert in Stuttgart, with the European première of "Ritual: Dance for Two Pianos", "Music for Two Pianists" and "African Miniatures";November 2005: Première of "Some Night Music", "Kwela Concerto" and other arrangements;Throughout 2006: Kwela Tebza performed Roux’s arrangements and compositions in Oudtshoorn, Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg (South Africa), and Bern, Switzerland, the last with Roux on piano;September 2006: On piano with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, titles from "No Boundaries", in Johannesburg, South Africa;17 May 2008: On piano in "Coming Home", Johannesburg, 2008December 2006: Revised "Agnus Dei" performed by John Outland’s Christmas Chorale in Stuttgart;Saxofourte performs "Tekweni Suite" in Germany and abroad virtually every week;William Chapman-Nyaho regularly performs parts of "African Miniatures" and "Preludes in African Rhythm for Piano".

SHEET MUSICIn F.Z. van der Merwe South African/Africana music collection at the University of Pretoria, along with background correspondence and information;Contact Mrs Eridine Roux at [e-mail] / [phone] (South Africa: 012 420 4787)or email [e-mail]

Published:1998: "Die ou vrou se lied", in Johann P. Boshoff's book of Afrikaans poetry "Bloot";2007: "Dr Kwela–Mr Ragtime", Unisa, "Grade 6 Piano Examination Pieces";2007: "Kwela No. 1" and "Lullaby" in "Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora Volume 1", Chapman-Nyaho (ed.), Oxford University Press.

PUBLICATIONSFeatured artist, in English, in "ClassicFeel Magazine" (South Africa, October 2003);Featured artist, in Afrikaans, in "Kakkerlak 8" (South Africa, July 2007);Various programme notes, also by Isak Roux, Michael Spencer and Johann P. Boshoff;For other publications on Roux, search “isak roux” on http://152.111.1.251/, or use any other major internet web search engine.

ACADEMIC STUDIES OF ROUX'S WORKVan den Heever, M., "Die Suid-Afrikaanse weergawe van "Stations" van Isak Roux". BMus essay. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 2005;Mosupyoe, L., "A performance-based study of the "Preludes in African Rhythm" by Isak Roux". BMus essay. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 2008.