Africa Open presents: The Daniel-Ben Pienaar lectures
Dates: 17, 18, 19 & 20 July 2017
Time: 18h00-20h00
Venue: Gallery University of Stellenbosch (GUS), c/o Dorp and Bird Street
Monday 17 July
Heavy notes and light notes: a technical-expressive model
Abby Whiteside's model of piano technique explores the powerful analogy between the hierarchy of top arm/forearm/hand/fingers and that of musical rhythm. Workshopping some practical applications, this lecture will explore how we can use this analogy to explore where our language for physical motions and poetic intentions intersect.
Respondent: Jane Taylor (UWC) performing arts
Tuesday 18 July
To classicize or not to classicize: notes towards an aesthetics of musical performance
There has never been a greater need to debunk some of the mores of music criticism both in journalism and pedagogy. By playfully considering a simple timeless dialectic through comparative listening, this lecture investigates departure points for a critique of the performer's work on its own terms rather than as a mere conduit for the composer.
Respondent: Gabrielle Goliath (UCT) visual artist working with musical installation
Wednesday 20 July
Canonical games: using the past to make music now
There exists a close relationship between the authority that different ‘interpretative’ models claim and the practices they advocate. What are the implications for these practices when we start to mistrust the given authorities? This lecture will seek possible ways to free and expand the resources of expressive craft to make music now even as we are faced with a daunting historical legacy. With examples from Daniel Ben-Pienaar projects covering 17th century music, canonical German repertoire and Arnold van Wyk.
Respondent: Nic Haralambous (Honours pianist from UCT)
Thursday 21 July
Interview with Nicol Viljoen from the University of the Free State focusing on Pienaar’s 2015 Schubert Sonata recordings
Daniel-Ben Pienaar is garnering growing international recognition for his recordings and concert appearances. Born in South Africa, he was educated at the Royal Academy of Music (London), where he is now the Curzon Lecturer in Performance Studies.
His discography includes much-praised complete traversals of the keyboard music of Orlando Gibbons, Bach’s ‘48’, Mozart’s 18 Piano Sonatas, Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas, and both the ‘Goldberg’ and ‘Diabelli’ Variations. To be released is a Schubert Sonata cycle recorded in 2015. Recent concert work includes performances at the Singapore International Piano Festival, the Eilat Festival (Israel), a complete Bach ‘48’ at King’s Place in London, a Mozart Piano Sonata cycle at the Holywell Room in Oxford, a Chopin and Schubert recital at the Wigmore Hall and re-introducing South African audiences to Arnold Van Wyk’s masterpiece, ‘Night Music’.
- Website: Daniel-Ben Pienaar
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