Toward a Performance Tradition for the Mature Piano Works of Arnold van Wyk (1916–1983)

Abstract

The aim of this project was to present the five mature piano compositions of the South African composer, Arnold van Wyk (1916-1983) across two recital programmes. In these programmes, his pieces would be played alongside works by other composers who influenced him or who he performed. The dialogues that arose from the curation of these programmes, the autoethnographic reflection I underwent throughout this process in the form of a journal, and the analytical activities I undertook are used to inform a performance tradition of these pieces. This performance tradition, itself a reflection of the key aspects of playing these works from the perspective of the performer, is divided into three levels, each of which reflect a step in the artistic process. The notational details in the form of articulation and expression marks correlate to the notational level of comprehension. Accentuating the various musical parameters involves the syntactic processes of meaning making. Lastly, considering this music through the lens of a dream aesthetic corresponds with the artistry involved in playing these pieces. The resulting performance tradition of these works suggests that the performer needs to have a precise approach to the notational details, a flexible and creative response to accentuating the music, and be capable of organising these pieces into larger forms disclosed by psychological narratives.