Taljaard, Hannes

 

TALJAARD, Daniël Johannes 

 

b. Soutpansberg district (Siloam), 13 March 1976

 

Hannes Taljaard was born in Venda, the northernmost part of South Africa. He very soon developed a keen interest in music. His formal music education began in Potchefstroom at the age of seven, and his first attempts at composition date from the same period. During his school years, he took lessons on the piano, recorder and organ as well as in harmony and counterpoint.

 

Taljaard's BMus degree in Music Theory and Composition was completed in 1993, together with an Honours Degree in French Literature; both degrees were awarded cum laude. He was awarded an MMus (on the teaching of composition and music analysis) cum laude in 1997. He has taught harmony, counterpoint, analysis, aural training, composition and orchestration at Potchefstroom University since 1994. He is currently doing research for a Doctoral degree in Composition and Musicology.

 

Taljaard's compositions have been awarded numerous South African prizes, as well as a first prize in the international contest “Flores Iuventutis” in 1994/5. His works have been performed in South Africa and Europe. He is currently working on a number of commissions for European ensembles, and for South African musicians.

 

Taljaard has undertaken various study tours to Europe, and visited a number of colleges and conservatoires in England, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria. In 1996 he attended the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik in Darmstadt, studying with Stockhausen, Rihm, Lombardi, Pagh-paan, Hosokawa, Klaus Huber and others. He also attended the International Composers' Workshop in Sofia, Bulgaria (1997), as well as composition masterclasses with George Crumb (1997, 2001). He took private composition lessons with Wim Henderickx in Antwerp from 1996 to 2000.

 

Currently his interests involve composition, music theory, music education and musicology as well as the performance of chamber music. Taljaard has also read papers at various musicological congresses, including the International Musicological Congress in Leuven in 2002.

 

 

Orchestral works:

Sarabande (1996) (Violin and Symphony Orchestra)

 

Chamber Music:

Komas, ‘n Koker en drie Spieëls (1992) (Clarinet, Violoncello/Bassoon, Piano)

 

Impromptu (1993) (Cello solo)

 

Nacht und Träume (1993) (Clarinet, Piano)

 

Metaphor I (1996-1998) (Any mixed ensemble with ten performers and conductor/composer)

 

Introverz (1996-1997) (Cello solo)

 

Movement for String Quartet (1998)

 

Les Sarabandes (1999-2001) (Piano trio) For the Erasmus Trio

 

Lullaby (2000-2001) (Bassoon and vibraphone) For Andrea Bressan and Saverio Tasca

 

Sloka (1999-2001) (Bassoon solo)

 

Piano Music:

Fünf zärtliche Bagatellen Fünf zärtliche Bagatellen (1993) (solo) (1993) (solo)

 

Drie Nokturnes 1998 vir Bart se konsert in Lier (solo). For Bart Meuris

 

Two Lullabies (2001) (solo)

 

En Rêve – Rêvant (2003) (two pianos)

 

Choral Music:

Nova Cantica Sacra (1987-1898) SATB, SSAATTBB, SMATbB, some with soloists

 

Meditation I (1998) SSSS,AAAA,TTTT,BBBB

 

Uittelrympies (1999) for children’s choir with violin, flute, cello and piano

 

Raaiselrympies en snelsêers (1999) SSATbB (soli) 

 

Thula Sthandwa (2001) SMMA

 

Rymelary (1999-2001) SSATbB

 

Thula Sthandwa (2002) SMATbB

 

Solo Vocal Works:

A Song for Simeon (1993-1994) (Bariton, Clarinet, Bassoon, Violins I & II, Cello Piano) Poem by Thomas Stearns Elliot

 

Drei Gebete (1994-1995) (Bariton, 2 Celli). Texts form the Lutheran Prayer Book

 

Wiegieliedjies (Boek 1) (1999) (Soprano, Clarinet, Bassoon, Piano) For Erica Eloff. Traditional texts.

 

Wiegieliedjies (Boek 2) (1999-2001) (Soprano, 2 Flutes, 2Clarinets, Basoon, Violin, Cello, Harp, Piano Duo) For Erica Eloff. Traditional texts

 

Easter Hymn – STABAT MATER (2002) (Soprano, Clarinet, Bassoon, Piano) For Erica Eloff. An English text by Hannes Taljaard translated into Latin by Willemien Viljoen and Hannes Taljaard