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Saturday, August 13, 2011

HA!Man – ‘n belewenis vir Stilbaai gehoor

Die HA!Man is Francois le Roux – tjello en klavier kunstenaar, liedjieskrywer, ontwerper. Hyhet ‘n klassieke agtergrond en kan konvensionele stukke met vaardigheid uitvoer soos hy deeglik bewys het, maar hy beskryf homself eerder as ‘n spontane improviseerder. Daar was nogtans ‘n onderliggende struktuur aan die vertoning Woensdagaand, 3 Augustus in Stilbaai. Dit het sag, stadig en ondersoekend begin, met sy eie fluit- en stemklanke begelei deur ‘n elektroniese ‘orkes’ en die tjello – alles bekwaam beheer en verskaf deur le Roux.

There followed a short bridging section of more conventional cello playing, after which le Roux swung into improvisation, gypsy-like. His music had a South American feel, with echoes of the Argentinian composer, Piazzolla. Then he demonstrated his skill on the piano, starting with simple meandering and developing into a strong, more technically demanding section, accompanied by wordless singing and vocal sounds. Back on the cello, he played an excerpt from the Bach Cello Suites, straight, then with some impish, quirky improvisations. He also played some Borodin, with improvisations. The rest of the programme was his own innovation using cello, piano, voice, body, and demonstrating his creativity and skill. He can certainly play the cello – double- and treble stopping, and using the bow to create a fascinating range of effects. He included a ‘full orchestra’ rendition of variations on Sarie Marais, and ended with a sermon-story as background to the last item, which was his song Afrikaner is my Naam.

I think le Roux’s aim in this one-man performance was a sensual treat for himself and the audience – and for me he certainly succeeded!

Janet Stonier

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