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NEW RELEASE: 3 SONGS
by Todd Matshikiza
Hamba Kahle:
a widely-known song, performed at funerals and other solemn occasions.
Makhaliphile:
a song of praise with a great sense of humour, extolling the virtues of Father Trevor Huddleston, C.R., Anglican cleric who became a hero of the struggle against Apartheid.
Uxolo!:
Jubilant celebration of the rainbow aura of Johannesburg, the City of Gold!
Ushaka:
An epic in music and praise poetry, a history of the Zulus from the Zulu point of view, and a first of its kind in music history
To order your copy, contact us! | Hello, Dumela, Sawubona, Molweni!
It’s Robert Maxym here, inviting you to accompany me for a little while on the extraordinarily exciting
musical and artistic journey which has been coursing through my life for almost forty years now.
When I left New York for a fledgling conducting career in 1974, I had no idea that the efforts I would
expend in twenty years in Europe would only prepare me for the immense and rewarding musical challenges
which awaited me in South Africa upon my arrival here in 1993.
I found a society in turmoil and regeneration; in the interim South Africa has turned out to be one of the
big success stories of modern times, this bejeweled country at the bottom tip of African continent…and music
has played a seminal role in all of this. We all know that music has the power to heal our souls – I have
fortunately been exposed to, and participated in, music which has the power to heal the soul of nations –
Mzilikazi Khumalo’s “Ushaka, KaSenzangakhona” – healing the splintered soul of his Zulu people –
Todd Matshikiza’s “Three Songs” – healing the breaks in the fabric of his nation –
Jacqueline Martens’ “Children of Africa” – in which the killing stops…
All this has come about because of the realisation of a simple truth: traditional high culture can bring
great things into the world, if treated with equanimity and respect. If we respect the traditional African
cultural component as much as the traditional western cultural component – it’s an absolute no-brainer: the
result will be stunning!
You can experience this enthralling, rejuvenating music as well, in my editions for orchestra or concert
band and voices.
Should you prefer to accompany the less public side of my artistic endeavours, the artworks I have created
in thirty years of activity “between the notes”, by all means…
Enjoy the ride!
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Upcoming!:
Suite for Concert Band and Choral Finale, from Jacqueline Martens 1955 opera. "Children of Africa", an exquisite musical tale of conflict and reconciliation in 19th century Africa….
Three Ragtimes by Scott Joplin, arranged for full orchestra, and then again for concert band.
"Bawo Thixo Somandla", traditional Xhosa song, arranged for orchestra, concert band….
"Siyakhulekela", dramatic narrative for Zulu praise poet and orchestra, arranged for concert band, choir and soloists…: text - CT Msimang…
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