Following two successful Hearing Landscape Critically conferences in Oxford (2012) and Stellenbosch, South Africa (2013), the final event in the series of these conferences will take place from 14-16 January 2015 in the United States.
Podcasts and Photographs
Podcasts and Photographs of the Hearing Landscape Critically conference in Stellenbosch 2013 are now available. Please see http://musiclandscapeconference.wordpress.com/podcasts-and-photographs/.
Neo Muyanga, The Flower of Shembe, Extract
A link to a recording of a composition by Neo Muyanga in advance of the composers’ panel on Tuesday.
Hendrik Hofmeyr, Flute Sonata, 1st movement
Material for composers’ panel on Tuesday: another link
Composers’ Panel: Recordings
In advance of the composers’ panel on Tuesday, I paste two links below to recordings of compositions by Hendrik Hofmeyr that are pertinent to his contribution to the panel.
Preludio and Umsindo from Partita Africana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEXmbi95wUI
Notturno elegiaco (Orchestral version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rzs4a1r_FA
Short Films by Filmmaker Aryan Kaganof
Filmmaker Aryan Kaganof has been commissioned to produce short films on the Hearing Landscape Critically conference in Stellenbosch, addressing the theme of music and landscape. Please see the Kagablog for more information. Please contact Aryan Kaganof for further suggestions or information to be uploaded on the Kagablog.
Fyndraai Restaurant, Solms Delta
As a precursor to the Conference Dinner, Members of the Stellenbosch LOC visited Fyndraai Restaurant at Solms Delta in the Western Cape Winelands district.
Hilde Roos, Leonore Bredekamp, William Fourie, Santie de Jongh and Marietjie Pauw 
From the Solms Delta Website:
‘It might come as a surprise that Franschhoek — the “French Corner” of the Cape Winelands also known as South Africa’s culinary capital – offers more than bouillabaisse and coq au vin. Rather than turning to Europe for inspiration, 31-year-old Shaun Schoeman, who is the head chef at Solms-Delta’s Fyndraai Restaurant, is looking towards his own heritage for dishes that speak the rich languages of South Africa.
When dining at Solms-Delta, you not only walk into history at the new restaurant on the 319-year-old Solms wine farm, you walk over it. Fyndraai is built into the site of the farm’s original wine cellar, and upon entering you step onto a glass floor exposing the original foundations, uncovered during extensive archaeological diggings.
Dishes explore the diverse culinary heritage of the Cape, uniting European, Asian and African flavours in a fusion of tradition and creativity. Syrups and sauces enliven veldkos; elements of Afrikaner boerekos, with its strong ‘Cape Malay’ (slave) influences, are blended with ingredients favoured by the Khoi nomads who lived in the Franschhoek Valley thousands of years ago. All appetisingly plated for maximum eye and taste appeal. (See: Fyndraai Restaurant)
‘Hiervandaan is a red wine blend of Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan and Voignier and is part of the Solms-Delta range. A portion of the Shiraz is desiccated on the vine according to an ancient method to intensify the colour and add additional flavour components. The wine is a dark colour with intense flavours and dried orange peel aromas. It is a rich tannic wine with great ageing potential.’
Prof. Carol Muller (Pennsylvania) and Stacy Hardy (writer) to participate in Conference
Following the withdrawal from the conference by Prof. Richard Taruskin, Prof. Carol Muller (University of Pennsylvania) has kindly agreed to participate as one of the keynote speakers for the Hearing Landscape Critically conference in Stellenbosch. The title of her address will be Diasporic Musical Landscapes: Abdullah Ibrahim and Johnny Dyani in an African Space Program.
Stacy Hardy (writer and associate editor of the Chimurenga journal), has been invited to attend the conference. She will write a creative response to the conference, with the possibility of publication.
Druid walks fully booked
The ‘Druid walks’, to be led by artist Willem Boshoff are now fully booked. However, placement on a waiting list is still possible – please indicate this on the registration form.
Films, Concerts and Exhibitions free of charge
Members of the public and conference delegates are invited to attend the film, exhibitions and all concerts on the conference programme free of charge. This has been made possible by the generous funding supplied by The Leverhulme Trust. Audiences are invited to make a cash donation at the concert doors. These donations will be transferred to the Constitutional Court of South Africa’s Art Collection.
Critical Landscapes Blog 