Stellenbosch University’s Department of Music launched its Unit for Early Music in October 2014. Early Music and historically informed performance practice have long since formed part of the curriculum for practical music study at institutions abroad. At South African Universities however, this is a relatively new area of specialization despite many noteworthy professional and private initiatives in the Cape. This Unit acknowledges all these various initiatives in a quest to make this field of study accessible to all South African music students. In fact, the SU Unit for Early Music aims to become a hub for activities related to Early Music and historically informed performance practice (HIPP) in South Africa.
Whilst focusing on specialized instrumental tuition on period instruments, the SU Unit for Early Music also regularly hosts public and student performances, contributing to the number and frequency of HIPP performances in the local music scene. Through both teaching and performance, the SU Unit for Early Music contributes to the elevation of this area of musical specialization to the status it enjoys in Europe and the USA.
Martin Berger, senior lecturer in choral conducting at Stellenbosch University, is the head of the Unit for Early Music.
US BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
A significant number SU Music Department staff members participate in the Stellenbosch University Baroque Ensemble, often together with guest artists (for example specialist sackbut, cornetto and dulcian players) from abroad. The membership of the ensemble changes from project to project. The SU Baroque Ensemble which performs exclusively on period instruments represents the SU Early Music Unit and aims to contribute to historically informed performance practice in South Africa following international trends whilst maintaining local relevance.
Staff members share their passion for HIPP performance whilst working together in implementing knowledge gained through new research projects: Karin Maritz (recorder), Suzanne Martens (Baroque violin), Louis van der Watt (Baroque violin & viola), Peter Martens (Baroque cello), Mario Nell (organ/harpsichord) and Martin Berger (harpsichord & conducting) are regular members of the ensemble who engage with the new subject, the early instruments, and a Historically informed way of performing music.
Notable guest artists have included Andreas Scholl (internationally renowned countertenor), Pauline Nobes (violin – Würzburg/Manchester), Elisabeth Charlotte Berger (Transverse flute, recorder and Baroque oboe) and Erik Dippenaar (harpsichord).
Pauline Nobes CV
Stellenbosch University is the first University in South Africa to appoint an extraordinary professor in Early Music.
Baroque violinist, Pauline Nobes has been appointed in this position . She is recognised as one of Europe’s foremost specialists in historical performance practice. For many years she worked with ensembles such as The English Baroque Soloists, The English Concert and Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique playing in the most prestigious concert halls and festivals throughout Europe, the USA and Japan participating in over 100 CD productions. As concertmaster she has lead The Academy of Ancient Music, the Kölner Akademie and Musica Antiqua Köln. In addition to her much loved chamber music Pauline currently leads Das Neue Orchester and is a member of the Dresdner Festpielorchester.
Pauline is Professor of Baroque violin at the Musikhochschule in Würzburg (Germany) and has a long-standing teaching appointment at The Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, Great Britain).
