‘PHASES, PHRASES, AND PALINDROMES’
AT THE UCT SUMMER SCHOOL 2025
In January 2025, VOX will again be joining Grant McLachlan for a lecture-recital entitled Phases, Phrases, and Palindromes with a musical programme showcasing algorithmic approaches to composition in choral music by Arvo Pärt and Sir John Tavener:
“Music can stir our emotions more than any other human activity. We dance, play, work and relax by listening to music, and it’s a constant companion in our lives. Yet music is fundamentally a product of physics, a series of waves and patterns matched, contrasted and set against each other. These patterns give us what we expect; they surprise us, they excite us and they can make us cry. Using algorithms such as musical palindromes and Euclidean rhythms, this lecture-recital will excite and delight, showcasing some of history’s favourite composers.
“In his lecture-performances at UCT’s Summer School over the last few years, Cape Town-based composer Grant McLachlan has earned a reputation for turning conventional history of music on its head and encouraging audiences to experience concert-going in new and exciting ways, as will be done in this lecture-recital.
“Composers performed will include JS Bach, Joseph Haydn, John Tavener, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, and Grant McLachlan. VOX Cape Town, conducted by John Woodland, is well known for its innovative approach to choral music. They will be joined by Nicholas Bruiners on violin, Neil Robertson on flute and organ, and Grant McLachlan on piano.”
Wednesday 29 January at 7:30 PM
Baxter Concert Hall
Bookings (R150/R175) via Webtickets
VOX TURNS TEN: Singing at the UCT Summer School
The music of Sir John Tavener and Arvo Pärt is particularly meaningful for us, as both composers shaped our musical journey in the early days; indeed, our very first public performance – back in 2016 – was entitled Tave(r)ner and showcased the music of this holy minimalist composer. Performing at the UCT Summer School is also an important way to acknowledge the legacy of our cherished patron and mentor, Barry Smith, whose lecture-recitals at the Baxter Concert Hall earned an enormous following over the years. Finally, the indefatigable enthusiasm of Grant McLachlan his keeps us on our (musical) toes – and pays tribute to our past projects together, including other Summer School performances (see below) and the specially-commissioned environmental anthem he wrote for us in 2018, Molweni.