Making the Dutchman proud of his language... : ’n honderd jaar van die Afrikaanse kunslied
Date
2011-12
Authors
Grove, Izak
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns
Abstract
Die ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse kunslied kan herlei word na die eerste voorbeeld daarvan,
’n toonsetting deur Jan Gysbert Bosman (ook bekend as Bosman di Ravelli) in 1908 van wat
beskou word as die eerste volwasse gedig in dié jong taal, d.w.s. Eugène Marais se ikoniese teks,
Winternag. In ’n breër perspektief begin die geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse lied met volksmusiekagtige
pogings voor die eeuwending, deur die patriotiese lied in die jare onmiddellik na
die Anglo-Boereoorlog (soos dié van Stephen Eyssen), tot by populêre liedere gedurende die
twintigerjare, op die patroon van die Engelse “drawingroom” ballades, deur Stephen le Roux
Marais. Die koms van die digkuns van die dertigerjare het ook die verskyning van die Afrikaanse
kunslied, op die patroon van Europese modelle, ingelui. Hierdie era het gekulmineer in Arnold
van Wyk se siklus Van Liefde en Verlatenheid (1953). Dit is interessant dat die begin van die
Afrikaanse kunslied saamval met die afname van die Europese kunslied-tradisie, wat egter steeds
in stand gehou word deur ’n groep plaaslike liedkomponiste en -bewonderaars.
The development of the art song in Afrikaans can be traced back to the earliest example, a setting of the poem that can be considered the fi rst of the young language, i.e. Eugène Marais’ iconic text, Winternag (A Winter Night), composed by Jan Gysbert Bosman (pseud. Bosman di Ravelli) in 1908. In broader perspective the history of song began with early folklike attempts before the turn of the century, through patriotic song in the years immediately after the Anglo-Boer war (such as those by Stephen Eyssen), to popular songs during the 20’s, on Afrikaans texts, written in the manner of the popular English drawing-room ballad, by Stephen le Roux Marais. The advent of the poetry of the 1930’s also heralded the emergence of an independent art song tradition on European models, culminating in Arnold van Wyk’s cycle Van Liefde en Verlatenheid (1953). Interestingly the advent of Afrikaans song coincided with the waning of the European tradition, but is still upheld by a handful of local composers and admirers of the art song..
The development of the art song in Afrikaans can be traced back to the earliest example, a setting of the poem that can be considered the fi rst of the young language, i.e. Eugène Marais’ iconic text, Winternag (A Winter Night), composed by Jan Gysbert Bosman (pseud. Bosman di Ravelli) in 1908. In broader perspective the history of song began with early folklike attempts before the turn of the century, through patriotic song in the years immediately after the Anglo-Boer war (such as those by Stephen Eyssen), to popular songs during the 20’s, on Afrikaans texts, written in the manner of the popular English drawing-room ballad, by Stephen le Roux Marais. The advent of the poetry of the 1930’s also heralded the emergence of an independent art song tradition on European models, culminating in Arnold van Wyk’s cycle Van Liefde en Verlatenheid (1953). Interestingly the advent of Afrikaans song coincided with the waning of the European tradition, but is still upheld by a handful of local composers and admirers of the art song..
Description
Grove, I. 2011. “Making the Dutchman proud of his language...”: ’n Honderd jaar van die Afrikaanse kunslied. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 51(4):666-679.
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_issuetoc&pid=0041-475120110004&lng=en&nrm=iso
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_issuetoc&pid=0041-475120110004&lng=en&nrm=iso
Keywords
Afrikaans language, Songs, South African, Marais, Eugene,1938-. Winternag, Bosman di Ravelli, Vere, 1882-1967, Van Wyk, Arnold, 1916-1983, Du Plessis, Hubert, Visser, Annie, Bouws, Jan, Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners, Afrikaners, Engela, Dawid Sofius, 1931-1967, Coertse, Mimi, Louw, N. P. van Wyk (Nicolaas Petrus van Wyk), 1906-1970