The Founders | Die Stigterslede
Jacobus Lourens Kriel Human, known as Japie Human, was one of South Africa’s much-loved and well-known concert pianists. He was born at Winburg in the Free State, where he completed his schooling. At the University of the Free State, he completed the following degrees: BMus (1954), BMus Hons (1960), MMus (1963) and a PhD in 1976. His piano teachers included the reputable Prof David Roode, Dr Arend Koole and Prof Gertrude Kautzky. In 1957, Human left for London to study under Kathleen Long and Frank Merrick and he completed the ARCM at the Royal College of Music. He obtained a further five licentiates in piano performance and teaching. At the North-Western University in Chicago, he studied under Gerald Moore and Guy Mombaerts, leading to an MMusEd degree.
Human was affiliated with the
Music Department (now the Odeion
School of Music) of University of the
Free State from 1961 until his early retirement in 1991.
In 1978, he became Head of Keyboard Studies and produced several bursary and competition winners.
Japie Human was an active concert pianist, giving solo recitals throughout South Africa. At the age of 18, he appeared as soloist with the Durban City Orchestra playing Grieg’s Piano Concerto with Edward Dunn as conductor. Furthermore, he appeared as soloist with the then SABC Symphony Orchestra in performances of the Piano Concerto no. 2 by Rachmaninoff and the Burlesque by Strauss. He also performed with the PACOFS Symphony Orchestra during his career. Japie Human was also a brilliant jazz pianist. He often gave concerts that included works from this genre and he made numerous recordings.
Throughout his career, Japie was involved in the education and advancement of young musicians. For many years, he was an examiner for UNISA. He served as President of the South African Society of Music Teachers for one term and appeared on adjudicating panels for both National and International Piano and Music competitions.
Japie Human passed away in 2015 at the age of 82 years.
Jacobus Lourens Kriel Human, oftewel Japie Human, was een van Suid-Afrika se mees geliefde pianiste. Hy is in Winburg gebore, waar hy ook sy skoolloopbaan voltooi het. Hy voltooi die volgende grade almal aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat: BMus (1954), BMus Hons (1960), MMus (1963)
en ’n PhD in 1976. Tydens sy studentejare aan die destydse UOVS studeer hy onder bekende
pedagoë, onder andere prof. David Roode, dr. Arend Koole en prof. Gertrude Kautzky. In 1957 is Human na Londen waar hy sy klavierstudies by Kathleen Long en Frank Merrick voortgesit het om
uiteindelik die ARCM aan die Royal College of
Music te voltooi. Hy voltooi ’n verdere
vyf lisensiate in klavierspel en klavieronderrig.
Hy studeer daarna aan die North-Western Universiteit in Chicago, waar hy ’n MMusEd behaal. Sy klavierdosente was Gerald Moore en
Human was vanaf 1961 tot en met sy vroeë aftrede in 1991 verbonde aan die Musiekdepartement (nou die Odeion Skool vir Musiek) by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat. Vanaf 1978 was hy professor en hoof van klavierstudies in dié departement. As dosent het Human talle beurs- en kompetisiewenners opgelewer, waarvan sommige steeds aktiewe musiekloopbane in Suid-Afrika en die buiteland volg.
As aktiewe konsertpianis het Human regoor
Suid-Afrika solo-uitvoerings gegee. As 18-jarige konsertpianis maak Japie Human sy debuut as
solis saam met die Durbanse Stadsorkes
o.l.v. Edward Dunn in ’n uitvoering van die Klavierkonsert van Edvard Grieg. Hy tree onder andere as solis saam met die destydse SAUK-simfonieorkes o.l.v. Edgar Cree op met die Klavierkonsert no. 2 van Sergei Rachmaninoff
en die Burlesque van Richard Strauss. Hy gee ook gedurende sy loopbaan uitvoerings saam met die destydse SUKOVS-simfonieorkes.
Japie Human was ook een van Suid-Afrika se
jazz-virtuose. Sy menige uitvoerings sowel as
opnames in hierdie genre getuig daarvan.
Japie was dwarsdeur sy loopbaan betrokke
by die onderrig en bevordering van jong musici.
Hy het vir etlike jare as eksaminator vir UNISA opgetree; hy was vir een termyn die president van die Suid-Afrikaanse Vereniging van Musiekonderwysers en het op talle panele
vir Suid-Afrikaanse sowel as internasionale
klavier- en musiekkompetisies gedien.
Japie Human is in 2015 op die ouderdom van
82 jaar oorlede.
Johannes Willem Naudé was born in 1924 as one of nine children in the Heilbron district of the Free State. He grew up in Frankfort and studied at the Glen Agricultural College and the Bloemfontein Teachers College (now part of the University of the Free State). He started his career in 1946 as a gymnastics coach and sports coordinator at St Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein. He later also worked at the Model School and thereafter held the post of English teacher at the Secondary School Sentraal for many years. He was a well-loved teacher, who had the ability to motivate his learners to strive for their best.
In 1970 Willem Naudé made an important career change when he moved from the Department of Education to the Depart-ment of Cultural affairs. Here he became involved in both the performing- and visual arts. His input and enthusiasm left a lasting impression. Under his guidance many drama productions, music concerts and art exhibitions were organised in the Free State. However, in 1982 he returned to the Secondary School Sentraal, where he worked until his retirement in 1984.
Willem Naudé had a beautiful tenor voice. He sang many tenor roles in amateur opera, operetta and musical productions. He took singing lessons with the then well-known Petrus Lemmer and he appeared regularly in concert performances together with the coloratura soprano Francina Buys. Willem also learnt to play the organ later in his life and until the age of 86 he still studied new works.
Willem was a very good potter, enthusiastic gardener and excellent chef. His pottery works show the most beautiful and delicate indigenous flowers painted in an almost lifelike manner on ceramics and canvas. His fine pottery objet d’art were exhibited with pride in his home amongst some of the finest porcelain from different parts of Europe. As horticulturist he had a beautiful garden in Waverley where he and Japie lived for many years. Friends as well as strangers were welcomed in this oasis, where Willem knew every plant by its scientific name.
Japie and Willem’s home was a popular gathering place for friends that had a common interest and love for music, which they shared with weekly house concerts. Willem loved baking and as an excellent chef loved to treat the guests after the concert with some of his delicious baking.
His fine touch was visible in those unique gatherings.
Willem Naudé died in 2013 at the age of 88 years after a short illness.
Johannes Willem Naudé is in 1924 as een van nege kinders in die Heilbron-distrik in die Vrystaat gebore. Hy het in Frankfort grootgeword, waarna hy aan die Glen-Landboukollege en die destydse Bloemfontein Onderwyserskollege (nou deel van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat) studeer. Hy begin in 1946 sy loopbaan as gimnastiekonderwyser en sportafrigter by die St Andrewskool in Bloemfontein. Hy was ook by die destydse Modelskool as onderwyser werksaam, waarna hy vir jare die pos as Engels onderwyser by die Hoërskool Sentraal gevul het. Hy was ’n geliefde onderwyser, wat die vermoë gehad het om sy leerders te motiveer om hul potensiaal te bereik.
In 1970 neem Willem Naudé ’n belangrike beroepskuif deur van die onderwys-
departement na die Departement van Kultuursake te gaan. Hier kon hy sy liefde
vir die uitvoerende en beeldende
kunste uitoefen en laat hy blywende indrukke. Toneelopvoerings, musiekuitvoerings en kunsuitstallings is oral in die Vrystaat onder
sy bekwame leiding georganiseer en
aangebied. In 1982 keer hy terug na die Hoërskool Sentraal, waar hy werksaam
was tot en met sy aftrede in 1984.
Willem Naudé het oor ’n pragtige tenoorstem beskik en het talle tenoorrolle in amateuropera, operettes en musiekblyspele vertolk.
Sy sangonderwyser was die destydse bekende Petrus Lemmer. Hy het gereeld saam met
die koloratuursopraan Francina Buys in konserte opgetree. Later in sy lewe het Willem ook leer orrel speel en tot op die rype ouderdom van 86 jaar nog nuwe werke aangeleer.
Willem was ’n man van vele talente.
Hy was ’n uitstekende pottebakker, tuinier en kok. Van sy pottebakkerswerk vertoon fyn inheemse blomme wat lewens- en wetenskaplik-getrou op keramiek en doek geskilder is. Sy kunstige porseleinbakke en -koppies kon hy met trots by ’n uitgebreide versameling fyn porselein uit verskeie Europese lande voeg. As toegewyde tuinier het hy sy tuin in Waverley in ’n lushof omskep, wat beide vriende en vreemdes meegevoer het. Willem het elke plant in die tuin by sy wetenskaplike naam geken. Japie en Willem se huis was ’n baie gewilde kuierplek, waar talle huiskonserte gehou is. Die weeklikse musiekoggende by hulle huis was vir talle mense ’n hawe en ’n tuiskomplek. Hierdie vriendekring, opgebou rondom die liefde en waardering vir musiek, is dan ook weekliks getrakteer op die besonderse fyngebak van Willem. Hy het die gawe gehad om elke byeenkoms met sy besondere fyn aanraking te tooi.
Willem Naudé is in 2013 op die rype ouderdom van 88 jaar ná ’n kort siekbed oorlede.