Musical feast for locals
It was a highly successful house concert, which is to be repeated in the foreseeable future
On June 19, Liza Joubert gave a piano recital at the house of Dirk and Nelba Vercuil in Estcourt. Liza is a well-known personality in music circles. She is the subject of the Afrikaans song ‘Lisa se Klavier’ by Koos Kombuis.
Apart from piano – her favourite instrument – she plays several others. She is also a polyglot who speaks five languages. She may be known to readers of this paper as being formerly involved with the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir as musical director. She is currently working with the Cape Choral Academy and lives in the Stellenbosch district.
Nelba Vercuil read poetry and prose, interspersed with the music Liza was playing. Liza pointed out that this is a new format for her and makes her programmes ‘a snapshot in time’. The programme started with ‘The Tides of Manaunaun’, composed by Henry Cowell at age 15. It is based on an Irish myth about the origins of the world. This dramatic piece has sections where the pianist rolls her forearm across the base notes, mimicking the sound of waves.
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Next up was a piece composed by Liza herself, called ‘Uit Duisternis na Lig’ (From Darkness to Light), with alternating minor and major chords. The piece denotes hope and optimism in the midst of sadness. Schubert’s much-loved ‘Impromptu No. 3, Op. 90’ followed. The music embodies longing and melancholy.
Czech composer Josef Suk studied under Dvorak and married Dvorak’s daughter, Otilie. He wrote a love song for his new bride called ‘Pisen Lasky’. Liza conveyed the romantic nature of the song beautifully. Lest the audience be carried away by all this romanticism, Liza played Gershwin’s ‘The Man I Love’, which deals with some of the more practical aspects of love.
She finished the programme with a medley of ‘3 African Songs’ by Abdullah Ibrahim. This composer is one of South Africa’s best and the Cape jazz he is known for is internationally acclaimed. The middle piece is called ‘The Wedding’ and may just entice couples to renew their vows in order to have it played at the reception.
Now in a proper festive mood, the guests partook in some refreshments and lots of catching up. It was a highly successful house concert, which is to be repeated in the foreseeable future. Wife and husband Jeanne-Louise and Piet Moolman of Bloemfontein will perform Schubert’s ‘Winterreise for Viola and Piano’.
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