The rise and development of electric bowed instrument groups in South Africa

• Main Author: Van der Linde, Annien
• Other Authors: Roosenschoon, Hans
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2013
• Subjects: Electric bowed instrument groups; South African music industry; Electric violin; Electric quartet; Dissertations > Music; Theses > Music; Music
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80216

Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores the rise and development of electric bowed instrument groups in South Africa. The objective was to provide a history of the development of such groups in South Africa, as well as to compare the methods and musical products of these groups. Another aim was to explore the effects of the groups on the South African music industry and music education. An initial literature research on the history of electric bowed instruments and the phenomenon of classical crossover music as a genre provided the contextual information needed to understand the building blocks of this relatively young compartment of the music industry. Characteristics and marketing strategies of this genre are discussed as well as the impact of aesthetics and gender on classical crossover artists. A set of questionnaires was distributed amongst members of these groups, classical professional musicians in professional South African orchestras, members of electric bowed instrument groups in South Africa, tertiary music students and students at a music school, as well as audience members at an electric bowed instrument group concert. The questionnaires were taken to the Centre for Statistical Consultation at the Stellenbosch University Statistics Department and the processed results were applied to this study. The influence of such groups on South African music education as well as the South African music industry is then examined. The combination of electric bowed instrument and classical crossover music gave birth to the phenomenon of electric bowed instrument groups. In this thesis the “originality” of such artists was evaluated, as a distinct pattern or formula for forming and operating such groups has materialised. The South African electric bowed instrument groups attempt to incorporate a uniquely South African quality into their performances with varying levels of success. Members of such groups, as well as professional classical musicians in the country, believe that the existence and performances of these groups have had an impact on South African music education; however, this theory is proven incorrect in this thesis. Furthermore, it was found that electric bowed instrument groups could have a negative impact on classical music in South Africa, as their marketing directed at the public may unintentionally steer audiences away from classical music performances. The electric bowed instrument groups industry has shown enough growth to prove its sustainability in South Africa as well as internationally. It is a valuable additional occupation for bowed instrument players in South Africa, although it might have a detrimental impact on the South African classical music industry. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van elektriese strykinstrument groepe in Suid Afrika ondersoek. Die doel van die studie is om ʼn geskiedenis van sulke groepe te lewer, sowel as om die bestuur metodes en musiek van sulke groepe te vergelyk. Verder word die effekte van hierdie groepe in Suid Afrika op musiekopvoeding en die Suid Afrikaanse klassieke musiek bedryf ondersoek. ʼn Literatuur ondersoek van die geskiedenis van elektriese strykinstrumente en die fenomeen van klassieke “crossover” musiek as ʼn genre, het nodige agtergrond informasie ten opsigte van die boublokke van so ʼn relatiewe jong afdeling in die musiekbedryf verskaf. Kenmerke en bemarkingstrategieë van hierdie genre is bespreek, sowel as die klem van estetika en geslag op klassieke “crossover” musikante. ʼn Stel vraelyste is uitgedeel onder professionele klassieke musikante in Suid Afrika, lede van Suid-Afrikaanse elektriese strykinstrument groepe, tersiêre musiekstudente, studente by ʼn musiekskool sowel as ʼn gehoor by ʼn elektriese strykinstrument groep uitvoering. Die vraelyste was geneem na die Sentrum vir Statistieke Konsultasie aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, en die verwerkte resultate was toegepas op die studie. Die invloed van hierdie groepe op Suid Afrikaanse musiekopvoeding, sowel as die Suid Afrikaanse musiekbedryf word in hierdie studie bespreek. Die kombinasie van elektriese strykinstrumente en klassieke “crossover” musiek het gelei tot die ontstaan van elektriese strykinstrument groepe. In hierdie tesis word die uniekheid van sulke groepe bevraagteken, oordat ʼn patroon of formule vir die formasie en bestuur van sulke groepe te voorskyn gekom het. Die Suid Afrikaanse elektriese strykinstrument groepe wend ʼn poging aan om ʼn unieke Suid Afrikaanse persona aan hulle optredes te gee, met wisselende vlakke van sukses. Lede van hierdie groepe, sowel as professionele klassieke musikante in Suid Afrika glo dat die bestaan van elektriese strykinstrument groepe en hul uitvoerings ʼn invloed het op die Suid Afrikaanse musiekopvoedkunde. In die studie is hierdie hipotese egter onwaar bevind. Verder, is dit bevind dat elektriese strykinstrument groepe ʼn moontlike negatiewe effek op die Suid Afrikaanse klassieke musiek bedryf kan hê, aangesien hulle bemarking tot die publiek mag onopsetlik gehore weg stuur vanaf klassieke musiek uitvoerings. Die elektriese strykinstrument groep industrie toon genoeg ontwikkeling en groei in Suid Afrika en op internasionale vlak om hul toekoms in die musiekindustrie te bevestig. Sulke groepe is waardevolle addisionele werksgeleenthede vir strykers in Suid Afrika, alhoewel die fenomeen moontlike negatiewe impak op die Suid Afrikaanse klassieke musiekindustrie mag hê.