Hendrik Hofmeyr

Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr (born 20 November 1957) is a South African composer. Born in Cape Town, he studied at the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town, obtaining a BMus in 1979 and an MMus in 1991. He furthered his studies in Italy during 10 years of self-imposed exile as a conscientious objector, obtaining State Diplomas in Piano (Florence), Composition (Bologna) and Conducting (Florence) While there, he was awarded the Zucchelli Prize for Composition at the Bologna Conservatorio two years running and also won the South African Opera Competition with The Fall of the House of Usher. He also received the annual Nederburg Prize for Opera for this work subsequent to its performance at the State Theatre in Pretoria in 1988. In the same year, he obtained first prize in an international competition in Italy with music for a short film by Wim Wenders. He returned to South Africa in 1992, taking up a post as lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch. In 1997, he won two major international composition competitions, the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition of Belgium (with 'Raptus' for violin and orchestra) and the first edition of the Dimitris Mitropoulos Competition in Athens (with 'Byzantium' for high voice and orchestra). He returned to his alma mater as senior lecturer in 1998, obtaining a DMus there in 1999. and retiring as Professor and Head of Composition and Theory in 2022. His 'Incantesimo' for solo flute was selected to represent South Africa at the ISCM World Music Days in Croatia in 2005. In 2008 he was honoured with a Kanna award by the Kleinkaroo National Arts Festival. He received the UCT Creative Arts Award for his Second Symphony – The Elements in 2018. Hofmeyr’s oeuvre, which comprises operas, orchestral, choral, vocal and instrumental works, includes some 150 commissions. Many of his works have been published abroad and issued on CD. In 2021, Partita africana, a CD of his works, was chosen as Discovery of the Month by the French magazine Classica; in 2023, another CD featuring three of his works was selected as Contemporary CD of the Week on Radio France. Hofmeyr was awarded the prestigious triennial Hubert Rupert Prize for Classical Music in 2025 by the South African Academy of Science and Art for his contribution to music.

Works

Stage The Fall of the House of Usher (1-act chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after Edgar Allan Poe), lyric soprano, 1–2 tenors, bass-baritone, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, French horn, 2 percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 1987 Vala – A Metaphysical Ballet (scenario by the composer, after William Blake), large orchestra, 1989 The Land of Heart's Desire (1-act chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after William Butler Yeats), soprano leggero, lyric soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, flute (+ piccolo, alto flute), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon, French horn, 2 percussion, harp, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1989 (rev. 2010) Alice (3-act ballet, scenario by the composer, after Lewis Carroll), large orchestra, 1990–91 (a suite was arranged; also versions of Tango for 3 clarinets, 3 violins, cello, piano 4 hands and violin, viola, cello, piano; versions of some sections for 2 pianos) Lumukanda (3-act opera, libretto by the composer, after Credo Mutwa), 4 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos, alto, 3 tenors, baritone, 2 basses, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 1993–96 Die Laaste Aand (1-act chamber opera, libretto by the composer, after C.L. Leipoldt), lyric soprano, tenor, 2 baritones, 2 basses, flute, oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon (+ contrabassoon), French horn, percussion, string quartet, double bass, 2001 Saartjie (1-act monodrama, libretto by the composer), soprano, off-stage chorus, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon (+ contrabassoon), French horn, trumpet, trombone, timpani, 2 percussion, strings (3.3.3.2.2), 2009 Hemp van vlam (1-act monodrama, on poems by Sheila Cussons), soprano, clarinet, piano, 2017 Sara Baartman (3-act opera, libretto by the composer), soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, 2 baritones, bass, chorus, flute (+ piccolo), oboe (+ English horn), clarinet (+ bass clarinet), bassoon (+ contrabassoon), French horn, trumpet, trombone, timpani, 2 percussion, harp, strings (3.3.3.2.2), 2019

Orchestral Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra, 1999 Concerto for Flute, Violin and String orchestra, 2002 Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, 2004 Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, 2006Partita africana (comprising Preludio, Umsindo and Ingoma) 2007 Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, 2010 Concerto for Baritone Saxophone and Orchestra, 2010Kasi – An Introduction to the Orchestra, 2011 Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, 2012 Concerto for Flute, Harp and String Orchestra, 2012 (also version for flute, harp and string quintet, 2012) Concerto for Recorder, String Orchestra and Harpsichord, 2012 Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, 2014 Concerto for Recorder, Harpsichord and Orchestra, 2016 Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra, 2016

Second String Quartet, 2006 Sonata for horn and piano, 2006 Trio, violin, cello, piano, 2008 Trio, flute (or violin), clarinet (or viola or cello), piano, 2010 Tango languido, lever harp, 2010 Umlolozelo, guitar, 2010Hartbreekrivier and Umsindo, vibraphone, marimba, 2010 Trio II, flute (violin), clarinet (viola/cello), piano, 2011Elegia, flute, harp, 2011 5 Chorale Preludes, organ, 2011Diablerie, viola, guitar, 2012 Concerto for Flute, Harp & String Quintet, 2012 Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, 2013 Sonata for Cello and Piano, 2013 Fiaba 2 flutes and marimba, 2015 (also version for flute, violin and marimba, 2018)Ludzimu – Trio for violin, bassoon and piano, 2015 Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, 2015 Mokete (Celebration), 6 percussionists, 2015 Three Pieces for Flute and Piano, 2016 Sonata for Vibraphone and Marimba, 2016 Sonata for Viola and Piano, 2017 Divertimento, flute and string trio, 2017 Concerto for Piano & 7 Instruments, 2017 Sonata for Double Bass and Piano – Naka ya lethlaka, 2017 Necromancer for alto saxophone, piano, 2018 Sonata for Trombone and Piano, 2018 Sonata for Two Guitars, 2019 Sonata for Vibraphone and Piano, 2019 Gilgamesh weeps for Enkidu, duduk, flute, viola, harp, 2020Saint Francis and the birds, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, horn, bassoon, 2021 Quartet for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano, 2025Des ténèbres (Uit donker dieptes), organ, 2026

PianoNag, 1981–83Die Dans van die Reën, 1985 Four Pieces from Alice, 2 pianos, 1998 (version of music from the ballet) Chaconne, 1999The Four-Note Waltz, 2 pianos, 2000 Toccata, 2001 Variations on a Mazurka of Chopin, 2002 Notturno, 2003 Preludio, 2011 Sonata, 2011

VocalMusic, when soft voices die... (text by Percy Bysshe Shelley), high/medium voice, piano, 1983 (also version for high/medium voice, violin, viola, cello, 1994)Tre liriche in stilo antico (texts by Giacomo Leopardi, Torquato Tasso, Giuseppe Ungaretti), high voice, piano, 1982—84 (also version for high voice, violin, piano, 2012)Quiete and L'infinitofrom Tre liriche in stilo antico, versions for medium voice, cello, piano, 2000; voice, clarinet, piano, 2003) Drie Gedigte van Elisabeth Eybers, mezzo-soprano/alto, piano, 1977–85 Twee Gedigte van Eugène Marais, high voice, piano, 1978–85Of Innocence and Experience (text by William Blake), high voice, piano, 1982–85 Tre canzoni (texts by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Giosuè Carducci, Enrico Panzacchi), high/medium voice, piano, 1983–85

6 Chorales, SATB and (/or) organ, 2011–13 Senzeni na (traditional), SSATTB (with soprano solo), 2015 Weggaan en terugkoms (traditional), SSAA (or TTBB), 2019Al lê die berge nog so blou (Afrikaans traditional), 2024

DiscographyImmagini da 'Il cielo sopra Berlino'. Orchestra Musica '900, Maurizio Dino Ciacci, (conductor). Concorso Internazionale di Composizione Trento Cinema – La Colonna Sonora. Ricordi: SMRL 6396, 1988Raptus. Andrew Haveron (violin), Koninklijke Filharmonie van Vlaanderen, Marc Soustrot (conductor). Concours Musical International Reine Elisabeth de Belgique 1997. Cyprès: CYP 9306, 1997Spring. Tygerberg Koor, Linda Claassen (conductor). Voces Canorae 1998. Cape Town: 1998Kalunga. Ju Jin (piano). Ninth Unisa International Piano Competition. BMG Records Africa: CDCLA [LF] 003, 2000Chaconne. Grethe Nöthling (piano). Hennie Joubert Pianoforte Competition 2000. Muzik Front, 2000Die Spokewals; Uqongqot'hwane; Thula, babana. Pro Cantu, André van der Merwe (conductor). Pro Cantu 2000. Cape Town, 2000Incantesimo. Merryl Neille (flute). University of Pretoria Music Department 2001. CSO502, 2001Tu pauperum refugium. Tygerberg Children's Choir, Odawara Children's Choir, Moram Choir, Newfoundland Youth Symphony Choir, Hennie Loock (conductor). The World of Children’s Choirs: SongBridge 2001 Concert. Vancouver: 2001Tu pauperum refugium. Tygerberg Children's Choir, Odawara Children's Choir, Moram Choir, Newfoundland Youth Symphony Choir, Hennie Loock (conductor). Eternity. Cape Town: 2002 Pie Jesu. SA College of Music Choir, Leon Starker (conductor). Glimpses of music in Africa. Pasmae: CDPASMAE001, 2002A sexta autem hora. University of Pretoria Camerata, Johann van der Sandt (conductor). South African Choral Music I: Horizons. Prospect Tonstudio: GEMA 00122, 2002Ainsi qu'on oit le cerf bruire; Requiem (excerpts). Sanet Allen, Marianne Serfontein (sopranos), Suzanne Erasmus (alto), Stephen Carletti (tenor), Timothy Visser (bass), , Marietjie Pauw (flute), Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello), Bennie van Eeden (piano), Stellenbosch Camerata, Acáma Fick (conductor). Music Commemorating the Huguenots. Sunset Recording Studios/Huguenot Foundation of South Africa, 2002)Concerto per flauto e orchestra; Concerto per pianoforte e orchestra; Ingoma (second orchestral version). Helen Vosloo (flute), François du Toit (piano), /National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa, Emmanuel Siffert (conductor). Distell Foundation for the Performing Arts: CDX02/002, 2002How sweet the moonlight. Stellenberg Girls Choir, André van der Merwe (conductor). Stellenberg Girls Choir in Concert. Cape Town: 2002Die Spokewals. Tuks Camerata, Johann van der Sandt (conductor). Sing Joyfully: Tuks Camerata in Concert. Pretoria: Jingle Jackets, 2002The sick rose and A cradle song' from Of Innocence and Experience; Winternag from Twee Gedigte van Eugène Marais; L'infinito from Tre liriche in stilo antico - version for voice, flute, piano; Oda à la bella desnuda (section 2); Zefiro torna' from Due sonetti di Petrarca. Julia Bronkhorst (soprano), Paula van Delden, (flute), Rebecca Smit (cello), Jacco Lamfers (piano). Swewe en Swerwe – Poetical Songs about and from South Africa. Eindhoven: Q DISC, Q 97042, 2003Sweet was the Song. Tygerberg Children's Choir, Hennie Loock (conductor). Christmas Time/Dis Kersfees. Cape Town: 2003Hodie Christus natus est - original version. Tygerberg Children's Choir, 30th anniversary re-union choir, Hennie Loock (conductor). Thank you for the music. Cape Town: 2005 Sinfonia africana for soprano, choir and orchestra. Sabina Mossolow (soprano), Stellenbosch University Choir, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Lesley Dunner (conductor). Hendrik Hofmeyr – Sinfonia africana. Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Cape Town: 2005Uqongqot'hwane; Die Dans van die Reën. Stellenbosch University Choir, André van der Merwe (conductor). Illumina. Cape Town: 2005Die Dans van die Reën. KwaZulu-Natal Youth Choir, Gérard'd du Toit (conductor). Celebration, 2005Hodie Christus natus est - Version for treble choir, Thula babana. Stellenberg Girls Choir, André van der Merwe (conductor). Inyanga Entsha. Cape Town: 2005Tango dal balletto Alice. I Grandi Violoncellisti. Dances for Six. Cello Classics: CC1019, 2006Sonata per corno e pianoforte. Shannon Armer (horn), Sandra Kettle (piano). Collected Works. South African Horn Society, Cape Town: 2006Pie Jesu. Singkronies Choir, Johann van der Sandt (conductor). South African Choral Music IV: Khutso. Prospect Tonstudio, Gema 00174, Helmstedt: 2006Super flumina Babylonis. University of Pretoria Camerata, Johann van der Sandt (conductor). An International Collection of Choral Music. Prospect Tonstudio, Gema 00175, Helmstedt: 2006Of Innocence and experience; Tre liriche in stile antico; Tre canzoni; en skielik is dit aand; Die stil avontuur; Vier gebede by jaargetye in die Boland. Zanne Stapelberg (soprano), André Howard (baritone), Hendrik Hofmeyr (piano). Hendrik Hofmeyr - Lieder. CDExpress, Cape Town: 2007Notturno elegiaco. Trio Hemanay. Trio Hemanay. Classic FM, HEM01, Johannesburg: 2007Die Dans van die Reën. Ljubljanski Madrigalisti, Andrea Martinjak (conductor). Blizu Srca. Sazas: 2007Luamerava. Ian Watson (violin). Journal for the Musical Arts in Africa, Vol. 4, 2007Desert Sun. Kamēr..., Maris Sirmais (conductor). World Sun Songs. Riga: 2008Batter my Heart. Pro Cantu, Leon Starker (conductor). PC07, Cape Town: 2008Mon amie, tu me suivras from Par les Sentiers de lumière, Pie Jesu. Pro Arte Singers, Arthur Sjögren (conductor). Pro Arte Singers - Thirty-Sixth Season 2008-2009. Candlewood Digital: PAS 3604The birth of Orc for choir; Pie Jesu. Stellenbosch University Choir, André van der Merwe (conductor). Laudate. Stellenbosch: 2009Winternag from Twee Gedigte van Eugène Marais; Nog in my laaste woorde from Die onverganglike oomblik. Vanessa Tait-Jones (soprano), André Howard (baritone), Elna van der Merwe (piano). ’n Eeu van Afrikaanse Liedkuns. Stellenbosch University and SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, Stellenbosch: 2010Ainsi qu’on oit le cerf bruire. Melissa Manseau (soprano), Jennifer Yeaton-Paris (flute), Beth Pearson (cello), Paul Dykstra (piano). Rapport. Navona Records, NV5827, 96931 00027, Hampton, USA: 2010Concerto per flauto, violino e orchestra d’archi. Raffaele Trevisani (flute), Piet Koornhof (violin), Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Constantine Orbelian (conductor). New Century Flute Concertos. Delos, DE 3399, 0 13491 33992, Sonoma, USA: 2010It takes two .... Trio Hemanay. It takes three. HEM002, 6 001651 04457, Johannesburg: 2010Die Spokewals; Thula, babana - version for mixed choir. Akustika, Christo Burger (conductor). ACS002, Pretoria: 2010. Kaljanner Kaljanner, Thula, babana. Tygerberg Children's Choir, Hennie Loock (conductor). Champions in Song, Cape Town: 2011 The Healing Prayer - Version for choir and organ. Pro Arte Singers, Michael Burnette (organ), Arthur Sjögren (conductor). Opening Concert 2010-2011: From Romantic to Contemporary. Candlewood Digital, PAS 3801, Stamford, USA: 2011Il poeta e l’usignolo. Liesl Stoltz (flute), Jacqueline Kerrod (harp). Cape Town: 2011Incantesimo. Marietjie Pauw (flute). Fofa le nna. Stellenbosch: 2012Canto notturno. Maria du Toit (clarinet), Nina Schumann (piano). (TwoPianists Records: TP1039145, 2012)A sexta autem hora. Stellenbosch University Choir, André van der Merwe (conductor). Headline - Stellenbosch University Choir in concert. Stellenbosch: 2012 Rapsodia notturna Goran Krivokapić (guitar), Corneli Smit (piano). Chamber Music for Guitar and Piano. KSG Exaudio, 4260108670277, Germany: 2013Song of the Summer Wind. Owen Brits (flute), Farida Bacharova (violin). Song of the Summer Wind – Choral music and new South African works from the Darling Music Experience. DME/CD/2013, Darling: 2013 String Quartet I, String Quartet II, Of Darkness and the Heart - Version for soprano and string quartet. Sabina Mossolow (soprano), Odeion String Quartet. Of Darkness and the Heart. SACM Productions, SACM20-0813, 0700371586300, Cape Town: 2013. Des ténèbres. Stellenbosch University Symphony Orchestra, Corvin Mattei (conductor). Hugenote Feeskonsert. Franschhoek: 2013Genesis; Lied van !Kho die Bloukraanvoël. Cape Town Youth Choir, Leon Starker (conductor). Chariots. Cape Town: 2014Die Spokewals. University of Pretoria Camerata, Michael Barrett (conductor). Phoenix. Pretoria: 2014 Sonata for Flute and Piano, Mabalêl Fantasy, Il poeta e l’usignolo, Incantesimo, Marimba. Liesl Stoltz (flute), Jose Dias (piano), Francois du Toit (piano), Jacqueline Kerrod (harp). Explorations – South African Flute Music. SACM Productions, Cape Town: 2015Preludio and Umsindo from Partita africana. Renée Reznek (piano). From my beloved country – New South African piano music. ASC Records, PFCD055, 0607128 998792, London: 2017Variazioni sopra una ninnananna africana. Lieva Starker (violin). Lieva Starker. Cape Town: 2017Hodie Christus natus est – Version for mixed choir. Stellenbosch University Choir, André van der Merwe (conductor). Heaven’s Flock. Stellenbosch: 2019Preludio e Umdanso. Leon Bosch (double bass), Rebeca Omordia (piano). The South African Double Bass. Meridian, LC 13637, , London: 2020Ballata africana, Partita africana, Endymion and the Moon, Philomela’s Night Song, Sonata for Flute and Piano, Sonata for Vibraphone and Piano. Marika Hofmeyr (piano), Phillipe Bernold (flute), Berthilde Dufour (violin), Phillipe Voituron (vibraphone). Hendrik Hofmeyr – Partita africana. Triton, , France: 2020Mabalêl Fantasy. Khanyisile Mthetwa (flute), Peter Cartwright (piano). African Bird. 198002104458, Johannesburg: 2021Of Innocence and Experience. Serafini Brillanti: Rhonda Nus Tinnin (soprano), Randall Tinnin (trumpet), Erin K. Bennett (piano). Centaur Records, 044747391328, USA: 2022 Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Sonata for Horn and Piano, Sonata I for Violin and Piano. Ferdinand Steiner (clarinet), Jeff Nelsen (horn), Alissa Margulis (violin), Nina Schumann (piano). Hofmeyr – Duo sonatas. TwoPianists, Amazon, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, South Africa: 2022 Etude from Partita romantica. Laura Pauna (piano). Prismatica – Contemporary South African Piano Music. Vektor, iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Pretoria: 2022 Canto notturno. Danrè Strydom (clarinet), Grethe Nöthling (piano). Opus ZA – A collection of South African gems for clarinet and piano. Aliud, Spotify, Apple Music, The Netherlands: 2022 Twee gedigte van Eugène Marais, Alleenstryd, Thula, thu, Die skaduwee van die son, Wintersprokie, Three Shakespeare sonnets, Die junge Magd. The worlds behind the words – Art songs of Hendrik Hofmeyr. SACM Productions, 659525338626, Cape Town: 2022Fantasia sopra ‘Senzeni na’, Woorde in die wind, Twee verjaarsdagliedere. Minette du Toit-Pierce, (mezzo-soprano), Marika Hofmeyr (piano). Nagmusiek. Horus/Triton, , Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, Tidal, France: 2023Thula, thu, The broken string. Bree Nichols (soprano), Alexandr Starý (piano) Tapestry of voices. Navona, NV6583, , Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, Tidal, USA: 2023Saint Francis and the birds. Bandwidth Ensemble: Cobus du Toit (flute), Romie de Guise-Langlois (clarinet), Jonathan Hulting-Cohen (saxophone), Josh Michal (horn), Rémy Taghavi (bassoon). Where songs go at night. Neuma Records, Neuma 193, , USA: 2024Amar(tan)go – Version for viola and piano. Louise Lansdown (viola), Charles Matthews (piano). Mzansi Viola – South African Viola Music''. Meridian, CDE84671, Spotify, Deezer and other digital platforms, UK: 2025