The places where we spent our childhood and youth are imprinted deeply within us through their landscapes and culture, and memory thereof remains a lifelong companion. Quite often pictures, experiences and situations offer a rich source of stimulation to a creative person. A fine example of such an experience was witnessed at a concert which took place on 18 February 2000 at the Waldorf School, Uhlandshöhe in Stuttgart. This event is partially documented by this recording.

 

Here Isak Roux (*1959 ) introduces his own chamber works from the period 1990 - 1999. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, he became familiar with the vital and colourful folk music of his native land at an early stage. From 1977 onwards he studied music at the University of Natal, Durban and obtained his Masters of Music in 1988. Encouraged by his mentor Kevin Volans, he devoted much time to the intensive study of Southern African folk music and began searching for ways to incorporate its elements into new classical compositions. It was along this route that a series of works resulted in which the melodic qualities and especially the diverse rhythms of local folk music were absorbed.

 

With his music Isak Roux lends the sounds of his country of birth a voice that does not seek to merely imitate or quote sources of inspiration. His compositions reflect a creative dialogue between the essence of  South African folk music and the traditional principles of European art music. Thus one finds that melodic fragments or characteristic rhythms build the nucleus of pieces that often tend to be almost aphoristically short. Motivic centres are frequently connected by passages of apparent improvisation based on African playing techniques. This collage-like procedure is for example  amply employed in the piece Brief Chronicle. Moreover the compositions are also inspired by the sounds and timbres of certain instruments or peculiarities of peoples and landscapes. Linked to the compositional procedures of contemporary music in the European tradition, Roux‘s works build a bridge between Africa and Europe and can be interpreted as a contribution towards the blending of diverse cultures in a cosmopolitan fashion.