Factors that govern the selection of repertoire performed by South African youth orchestras

Date
2021-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Youth Orchestras form an integral part of many music programmes across South Africa, yet research on these important organisations has been limited. The repertoire performed is of particular relevance, since youth orchestras provide an important platform of experiential learning to many youth who aspire to pursue the career of an orchestral musician. This research sets out to investigate the determining factors in the selection of repertoire for South African youth orchestras, as well as who the people are behind such selections. Nineteen South African youth orchestras, falling within the scope of this study, were identified. The youth orchestra landscape of South Africa was mapped, and one tertiary, regional and national orchestra were selected respectively for further investigation with regard to repertoire selection. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with conductors and management personnel working with the orchestras from 2008 – 2018; a repertoire list of all works programmed for this period was compiled, and the resultant data compared. Preliminary research findings indicated that a number of factors ranging from the pedagogical needs of orchestra members to social responsibility, determine the repertoire choice for youth orchestras in South Africa. This elicited further investigation into the responsibility of conductors and their advisors in ensuring appropriate repertoire selection in terms of the capabilities and pedagogical needs of the orchestra members, and in addressing the important aspect of social cohesion through shared goals. The programming of South African repertoire, and the demographic diversity of youth orchestra membership, were additional determining factors which emerged. A list of the South African literature performed is included, but was not the core focus of this study. Demographic diversity also does not fall within the scope of this study, but provides valuable material for future research in this sphere.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Jeugorkeste is ‘n integrale deel van baie musiekprogramme in Suid-Afrika; desnieteenstaande is die navorsing oor hierdie belangrike instansies beperk. Die repertorium wat uitgevoer word, is van besondere belang, aangesien jeugorkeste vir jongmense wat ’n loopbaan as orkesspeler nastreef, ’n belangrike platform van ervaringsleer bied. Hierdie navorsing stel ondersoek in na die faktore wat die keuse van repertorium vir Suid-Afrikaanse jeugorkeste bepaal, asook wie die besluitnemers daaragter is. Negentien Suid-Afrikaanse jeugorkeste wat binne die omvang van hierdie studie val, is geïdentifiseer. Die Suid-Afrikaanse jeugorkeslandskap is gekarteer, en een elk van ’n tersiêre-, streeks- en nasionale orkes is geïdentifiseer vir nadere ondersoek na repertoriumkeuse. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met dirigente en bestuurslede wat vanaf 2008 tot 2018 met jeugorkeste gewerk het; ’n repertoriumlys van werke wat in hierdie tyd uitgevoer is, is saamgestel, en die inligting is vergelyk. Voorlopige navorsingsbevindinge het daarop gedui dat ‘n verskeidenheid van faktore wat wissel van die pedagogiese behoeftes van orkeslede tot sosiale verantwoordelikheid die repertoriumkeuses vir jeugorkeste in Suid-Afrika bepaal. Dit het ‘n verdere ondersoek ontlok na die verantwoordelikheid van dirigente en hulle raadgewers om geskikte repertoriumkeuse met betrekking tot die vermoëns en pedagogiese behoeftes van orkeslede te verseker, en om die belangrike aspek van sosiale kohesie deur middel van gedeelde doelwitte aan te spreek. Die programestelling van Suid-Afrikaanse repertorium, en die demografiese diversiteit van jeugorkeslede, het ook as bepalende faktore na vore getree. ’n Lys van Suid-Afrikaanse werke wat uitgevoer is, is ingesluit, maar was nie die kernfokus van die studie nie. Demografiese diversiteit was ook nie ingesluit binne die omvang van die studie nie, maar dit bied waardevolle materiaal vir toekomstige navorsing op die gebied.
Description
Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Orchestral music -- Juvenile, Performing arts -- Repertoire, Pedagogy (Music), South African Compositions, Conducting, Music -- Instruction and study, UCTD
Citation