Wyk, Arnold(us Christian Vlok) van, South

views updated

Wyk, Arnold(us Christian Vlok) van, South

Wyk, Arnold(us Christian Vlok) van, South African composer, pianist, and teacher; b. Calvinia, Cape Province, April 26, 1916; d. Cape Town, May 27, 1983. He studied at Stellenbosch Univ., near Cape Town (1936-38), then went to London, where he studied with Theodore Holland (composition) and Harold Craxton (piano) at the Royal Academy of Music (1938-43). From 1939 to 1944 he worked for the BBC. In 1946 he returned to South Africa and taught at the Univ. of Cape Town (1949-61) and the Stellenbosch Univ. (1961-78). He also was active as a pianist.

Works

orch: 2 syms.: No. 1 (1941-43) and No. 2, Sinfonia ricercata (Cape Town, March 13, 1952); Southern Cross (1943); Rhapsody (Cape Town, March 4,1952); Aubade for Small Orch. (1955); Primavera (1960); Maskerade (1962-64); Gebede by jaargetye in die Boland (1966). CHAMBER: 5 Elegies for String Quartet (194CM1); String Quartet No. 1 (1946); Duo concertante for Viola and Piano (1962); Music for 13 Players (1969); various piano pieces. VOCAL: Choral pieces; songs.

Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn /Dennis McIntire