Isak Roux

Isak Roux is a South African born German composer born in 1959. He is known for his arrangements of South African music, especially his work with the musical groups Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Kwela Tebza.

Early life and education
Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa April 4, 1959, Isak Roux studied at the University of Natal where he obtained a Bachelor of Music and, in 1988, a Masters of Music in composition, with the dissertation Local music: Exploring the technical possibilities for establishing a South African compositional style. This study was conducted under the supervision of Jürgen Bräuniger and composer Kevin Volans.

In 1988 Roux relocated to Germany, taking classes in composition with Ulrich Süsse at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart.

Professional career
Since 1991, Roux has taught at the Waldorf School in Stuttgart.

His work as a composer, arranger and pianist (both solo and ensemble) started while he was at university. Musical direction of productions such as Wakeman, Wakeman 2 and With a little help from my friends followed. Increasingly, he added choral composition and conducting to his list of musical activities.

Resident in Europe, Roux has participated in musical festivals such as the Tonkünstlerfest (Baden-Württemberg, 1990 and 1993) and the International Composers' Workshop (Amsterdam, 1996). In 1999, he delivered a lecture-recital for the Stuttgart German-American Society on South African (township) jazz. His commitment to African musical forms, rhythms and instrumentation has, however, remained central to his creative vision.

He has composed syncretically in avant-garde, post-avant-garde and contemporary classical styles (so-called new music), with his music regularly being performed in Germany, South Africa, the UK and the US.

As an arranger he has become well known for his arrangements of South African music (traditional Afrikaans, Cape-Malay and Zulu –for piano, ensemble and voice). Over the past few years his musical association with the music organisation Music is a great Investment (MIAGI), as well as super groups Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Kwela Tebza has brought him wider recognition as both a composer and arranger, in South Africa and abroad.

Compositions
Ritual: Modern ballet/dance music, choreography by Paul Douglas. Two pianos. 1997
 * STAGE

Intrada Africana: small orchestra. 2005
 * ORCHESTRAL

Kwela Concerto: four penny whistles, string orchestra and percussion. 2004 (commissioned)

Music for Tenor Saxophone and Piano: 1981
 * CHAMBER MUSIC

Composition for String Quartet: 1981

Songs of the Urban Wanderer: violin and harp. 1987

Iculo lezingane: piano, vibraphone/marimba, percussion, cello. 1987

Landscape: trombone, tape, 1995

Lines, fragments, machines: violin, synthesizer, percussion, tape. 1996, revised 1998

Sketches: flute, marimba. 1997

Four African Scenes, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon. 1999 (commissioned)

Balafo (Études in African Rhythm): two marimbas. 1999

Kleine Chronik: clarinet, piano, 1999

Prime Cuts: Zwei Konstruktionen: oboe, cello. 1999 (commissioned)

Tekweni Suite: saxophone quartet. 2003 (commissioned)

Diepkloof Groove: saxophone quartet. 2007 (commissioned)

Dona nobis pacem: soprano, alto, tenor, bass (SATB), flute, double bass, percussion, piano. 1986
 * CHORAL

Missa Brevis: boys’ chorus (SSA), flute, cello, harpsichord, two African drums. 1991 (commissioned)

Coming Home: (multilingual; original text by Johann P. Boshoff), speaker, soprano, lyrical tenor, baritone, choir, string orchestra, jazz band, African percussion, 2008 (commissioned).

Verbeeldingsvlug: Text by Johann P. Boshoff. Solo voice. 1985
 * SOLO VOCAL

Die ou vrou se lied: Text by Johann P. Boshoff. Solo voice. 1985

Stations (The Way of the Cross) (multilingual, original text by Johann P. Boshoff), bass, speaker, string quartet, piano, harpsichord, percussion, 2002

Music for Two Pianists. 1983
 * PIANO

Ritual: Dance for Two Pianos. 1997

Preludes in African Rhythm. 1992-2000

Home. 2000

In Thy Presence. 2001

Penny Whistle Song. 2001

Five South African Ragtimes. 2001

Piano Afrika Songs, 2001

Siyabonga. 2002

African Miniatures: Music for young pianists. 2004

Dr Kwela–Mr Ragtime, 2006 (commissioned).

Arrangement and adaptations
Izintombi zaseKwatazi: Traditional Zulu. SATB. Undated

Tischlied: Text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and music Maxilian Eberwein. SATB, piano. 1986

Walil' untwana: Original melody by Welcome Duru. SATB. 1986

Mit Lieb bin ich umfangen: Original by Johann Steuerlein. SATB. 1986

Tant' Hessie & Volkies: Traditional Afrikaans. SAB. 1986

Twelve (12) songs for Ladysmith Black Mambazo: arrangements for male voices and chamber orchestra, 2003 (commissioned)

Some Night Music, adaptations of three works by Mozart for four penny whistles, string orchestra, percussion and rhythm section, 2004 (commissioned)

Agnus Dei, baritone/mezzo soprano with piano and clarinet, 2006 revision of 1988 composition

Watermelon Song: saxophone quartet, vibraphone, bass guitar and percussion. 2007

Dona nobis pacem, new adaptation for ladies choir, piano and clarinet, 2007 (commissioned)

Cape Medley (in Afrikaans, of “Boegoeberg se dam” and “Saai die waatlemoen”), children’s choir and piano, 2007 (commissioned).

Discography
"Four African Scenes" on News for Woodwinds. Domus Quintet (Dolphin, 1999)
 * COMMERCIAL

African Journal (various pieces). (Mp3.com, 2000)

Eine Hand voll Erde (various pieces). Isak Roux on piano (self-released, 2000), First Composer’s Portrait Concert in Stuttgart

Piano Afrika: Isak Roux plays traditional folk songs. Isak Roux, piano (Rhythm Records, 2001)

Piano Afrika 2: Honky Tonk Solo. Isak Roux, piano (self-released, GEMA, 2002)

“Township Guitar” (from Preludes in African Rhythm). Peter von Wienhardt, piano (Edition Musikat, 2002)

John Outland Christmas Chorale, 2004 (also DVD)

"Tekweni Suite" on We are not alone. Saxofourte, (BMG Ariola Classics, 2004)

No Boundaries. Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Isak Roux–producer, arranger, composer and pianist (Heads Up International HUCD 3092, 2005), nominated for Grammy Award in category Best World Music Album in February 2006.

Ritual: Dance for Two Pianos. Private recording, Stuttgart. 2002
 * ARCHIVE RECORDINGS

Stations, Stuttgart, 19 April 2002 (première), bass: Friedemann Lutz and Home, Balafo, and Mopani, 2002, the Second Composer’s Portrait Concert in Stuttgart

Stations, Bloemfontein, August 2002 (South African première), bass: Vuyani Mlinde.

Annually, since 1996, as pianist with John Outland’s Christmas Chorale or his other events in Germany
 * PERFORMANCES

April & August 2002: Pianist in Stations

November 2002: Two jamming sessions with the late Jake “Big Voice” Lerole in the ICMF Heritage Concerts in Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa

November 2003: Première of 12 songs featured on the CD No Boundaries performed with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the English Chamber Orchestra and players from the ICMF Orchestra–Roux on piano

April 2005: Third Composer’s Portrait Concert in Stuttgart, with the European première of Ritual: Dance for Two Pianos, Music for Two Pianists and African Miniatures

November 2005: Première of Some Night Music, Kwela Concerto and other arrangements

Throughout 2006: Kwela Tebza performed Roux’s arrangements and compositions in Oudtshoorn, Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg (South Africa), and Bern, Switzerland, the last with Roux on piano

September 2006: On piano with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, titles from No Boundaries, in Johannesburg, South Africa

17 May 2008: On piano in Coming Home, Johannesburg, 2008 December 2006: Revised Agnus Dei performed by John Outland’s Christmas Chorale in Stuttgart

Saxofourte performs Tekweni Suite in Germany and abroad virtually every week

William Chapman-Nyaho regularly performs parts of African Miniatures and Preludes in African Rhythm for Piano.

In F.Z. van der Merwe South African/Africana music collection at the University of Pretoria, along with background correspondence and information.
 * SHEET MUSIC

Published:

1998: "Die ou vrou se lied", in Johann P. Boshoff's book of Afrikaans poetry Bloot

2007: "Dr Kwela–Mr Ragtime", Unisa, Grade 6 Piano Examination Pieces

2007: "Kwela No. 1" and "Lullaby" in Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora Volume 1, Chapman-Nyaho (ed.), Oxford University Press.

Featured artist, in English, in ClassicFeel Magazine (South Africa, October 2003)
 * PUBLICATIONS

Featured artist, in Afrikaans, in Kakkerlak 8 (South Africa, July 2007)

Various programme notes, also by Isak Roux, Michael Spencer and Johann P. Boshoff

Van den Heever, M., "Die Suid-Afrikaanse weergawe van Stations van Isak Roux". BMus essay. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 2005
 * ACADEMIC STUDIES OF ROUX'S WORK

Mosupyoe, L., "A performance-based study of the Preludes in African Rhythm by Isak Roux". BMus essay. University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 2008.