An Anthology of Existence: Explorations into the Life and Works of Christopher Langford James (1952 - 2008)

Date
2017-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Christopher James Collection (CJC) in the Documentation Centre for Music (DOMUS) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, consists of over 100 boxes containing material ranging from hand-written manuscript scores, personal correspondences and diary entries. James was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and studied composition at the University of Pretoria before doing a Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) at the University of Cincinnati on a Fullbright bursary. As a composer, James’s style conflated traditional European musical textures with southern African instrumentation, rhythms and harmonies. His compositions include works such as Four portraits for pianoforte in four movements (1982), Songs of lamentation and remonstration (1985), Images of Africa (1987) and Paradise Regained (1999). James was also the original orchestrator of Mzilikazi Khumalo’s musical epic uShaka KaSenzangakhona. James’s music has not received significant attention from performers or musicologists, both during his life and posthumously. Because of this, the archive has become the main source of information in writing the untold story of James’s life. This projects is thus the first exploration into James’s life and music, explorations done through the lenses of archive theory, life-writing/(auto)-biographical theory and musicology. Discussions of selections of James’s music are found within the narrative of his life, a narrative which is structured around the location where James lived during a point in his life’s chronology. The selection criteria for which works have been selected for discussion is informed by the archive: namely the presence of recordings, frequency of the work appearing in letters and diary entries, and works being mentioned by interview participants. This dissertation thus aims not only to present critical discussions of James’s music as read through his life story, but also to explore the possibilities and limitations of the “life-and- works study” paradigm, and experiment with a structural framework which integrates musicological discussions with narrative ones. This work also probes the post-colonial problematic of location, place and ideas of “home” through structural devices.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Christopher James Versameling (CJC) in die Dokumentasie Sentrum van Musiek (DOMUS) by Stellenbosch Universiteit, Suid Afrika, bestaan uit meer as 100 bokse wat diverse materiaal bevat insluitend handgeskrewe komposisies, persoonlike korrespondensie en dagboek inskrywings. James is gebore in Rhodesia (nou Zimbabwe), en studeer komposisie by die Universiteit van Pretoria voordat hy inskryf vir sy Doktorsgraad in Musiek (DMA) by die Universiteit van Cincinnati op ‘n Fullbright beurs. As ‘n komponis kombineer James Europese musikale teksture met suiderlike-Afrika instrumentasie, ritmes en harmonieë. Sy komposisies sluit werke in soos Four portraits for pianoforte in four movements (1982), Songs of lamentation and remonstration (1985), Images of Africa (1987) en Paradise Regained (1999). James is ook die oorspronklike orkestreerder van Mzilikazi Khumalo se musikale werk uShaka KaSenzangakhona. Gedurende James se leeftyd en ook postuum verkry sy musiek nie aansienlike aandag van uitvoerders of musikoloë nie. As gevolg hiervan, is die argief versameling by DOMUS die hoof bron van informasie vir die skryf van die onvertelde storie van James se lewe. Hierdie projek is dus eerstens ‘n verkenning van James se lewe en musiek deur die lense van argief teorie, lewensbeskrywing/auto-biografiese teorie en musikologie. Binne dié raamwerk word uitreksels uit James se musiek bespreek as deel van die skep van ‘n narratief van sy lewe. Die narratief word gestruktureer rondom die plekke waar James geleef het op bepaalde tye in sy lewenskronologie. Die seleksie kriteria waarvolgens werke gekies is vir bespreking is bepaal deur die argief: dit wil sê die beskikbaarheid van opnames, die hoeveelheid keer wat ‘n werk opgeroep is in briewe en dagboek inskrywings, en werke wat genoem word deur mense met wie onderhoude gevoer is. Hierdie proefskrif onderneem dus om nie slegs kritiese besprekings van James se musiek soos gelees deur die lens van sy lewensstorie te bevat nie, maar ook om die moontlikhede en beperkinge te ondersoek van die “lewe-en-werk studie” paradigma. As sodanig eksperimenteer die werk met ‘n strukturele raamwerk wat musikologiese besprekings integreer met verskillende narratiewe. Verder ondersoek hierdie proefskrif post-koloniale kwesies en problematiek wat heers rondom die konsepte van ligging, plek en “tuiste” deur die gebruik van strukturele hulpmiddels en metodes.
Description
Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.
Keywords
Christopher Langford James -- Biography, Archives, Life writing, Musicology, Music -- Historiography, UCTD
Citation