Hennie Joubert studied music at the University of Stellenbosch, where he obtained a B.Mus. degree, in London, and at the Zurich Conservatory in Switzerland. He obtained Licenciates from the Royal Schools of Music and from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He lectured at the Universities of Potchefstroom, Stellenbosch and Pretoria, was the Director of the Music School of the Dutch Reformed Church, and Vice-Director of the Conservatoire of Music in Pretoria. In 1967 he was appointed Director (Professional) of the UNISA Music Examinations and held this position until his death.
He raised the standard of practical music in South Africa by revising the syllabi of the UNISA Music examinations, and adding works by local composers. He was co-responsible for the publication of UNISA’s music journal Musicus. Joubert was well known as accompanist and pianist. He adjudicated at several piano and singing competitions and was the founder of the Pretoria International Music Competitions in Pretoria. He received many honorary awards from prominent South African educational and cultural institutions.
Hennie showed an interest in composing early in his career, and left a small, but not insignificant oeuvre. From the clear directions that he provided regarding the interpretation of one of his early works it is evident that he had specific ideas about sound representation. Most of his compositions were written for the piano, and specifically for the UNISA syllabus. Nevertheless, sacred music played an important role in his life, and his best works were written in this genre. His compositions include works for choir and for the organ, as well arrangements. One of his most moving choir works, Lied vir Kersdag, was written at the request of Mimi Coertse and also dedicated to her. Recordings of some of his compositions are held by the SABC.
Hennie Joubert het na matriek aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch gestudeer waar hy die B.Mus graad verwerf het en ook aan die Konservatorium für Muzik in Zurich en in Londen. Hy verwerf Lisensiate van die Royal Schools of Music en van UNISA. Hy het aan die Universiteite van Potchefstroom, Stellenbosch en Pretoria doseer en was ook Direkteur van die NG kerk se Musiekskool en Onder-direkteur van die Konservatorium vir Musiek in Pretoria. In 1967 word hy aangestel as Direkteur (Professioneel) van die Musiekeksamens van UNISA, ‘n pos wat hy tot met sy afsterwe beklee het.
Hy verhoog die standaard van praktiese musiekbeoefening in Suid-Afrika deur die opknapping van leerplanne van die UNISA Musiekeksamens en deur werke van plaaslike komponiste in die leerplanne op te neem. Hy was mede-verantwoordelik vir die publikasie van UNISA se musiektydskrif, Musicus.
Joubert was ‘n bekend as begeleier en pianis. Hy het gereeld by internasionale klavier- en sangkompetisies beoordeel en was die stigter van die Internasionale Musiekkompetisies in Pretoria. Hy ontvang eretoekennings van verskeie prominente Suid-Afrikaanse opvoedkundige- en kultuurinstansies.
Hoewel Hennie Joubert nie bekendheid as komponis verwerf het nie, het sy belangstelling in komposisie vroeg in sy loopbaan begin en het hy verskeie werke nagelaat. Uit die voorskrifte betreffende die uitvoering van een van sy jeugwerke is dit duidelik dat hy spesifieke klankvoorstellings gehad het. Die meeste van sy komposisies is vir klavier en is spesifiek geskryf vir die UNISA leerplanne. Nogtans speel gewyde musiek ‘n baie belangrike rol in sy lewe en sy grootste werke word in hierdie genre geskryf. Sy nalatenskap sluit koor- en orrelwerke asook verskeie verwerkings in. Een van sy aangrypendste koorwerke, Lied vir Kersdag, is op versoek van Mimi Coertse geskryf en ook aan haar opgedra. Opnames van sommige van sy komposisies is in besit van die SABC.
Koraalwysies nr 1 & 2
Aap my na!
Sing, hardloop en huppel
Sie daar – dis die Lam van God
Hulde van die Herders
Lied vir Kersdag
13 arrangements, mainly vocal
2 organ chorale arrangements
JOUBERT, Hendrik, Johannes ['Hennie']
(b Bellville, 27 Dec 1926, d Laingsburg,
16 April 1986)