Pierre-Henri Wicomb

Last updated

Pierre-Henri Wicomb
Birth namePierre-Henri Wicomb
BornStellenbosch, South Africa
Occupation(s)Classical music, film and theatre composer

Pierre-Henri Wicomb is a South African composer of contemporary music, which ranges across variety of genres, including orchestral compositions, chamber music, electroacoustic works, and film scores. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Wicomb was born in Stellenbosch, South Africa, to the late Afrikaans singer Randall Wicomb and his wife Koba Wicomb. [2] Pierre-Henri, along with his siblings Saskia and Kobâ, often performed with their father, both individually and as a family ensemble. [3] He pursued his early music studies at the University of Cape Town, where he developed a foundation in composition and music theory. He studied composition at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa under Roelof Temmingh and Theo Herbst. He completed a master's degree in composition at the University of Cape Town under the supervision of Hendrik Hofmeyr. Following his studies in South Africa, Wicomb furthered his education in the Netherlands, specialising in contemporary music composition and electroacoustic techniques. He completed a postgraduate degree at the Koninklijk Conservatorium, [4] studying under Gilius van Bergeijk and Diderik Haakma Wagenaar.

Compositional style and approach

Pierre-Henri Wicomb's compositional style is characterised by experimental structures, extended instrumental techniques, and the integration of electronic and acoustic sound. His scores often employ non-traditional notation systems, including graphic and performer-responsive elements, which encourage interpretive engagement rather than fixed execution. [5]

Wicomb frequently composes in close collaboration with performers, tailoring works to the specific sonic capabilities and experimental techniques of individual instruments. For example, in his clarinet work It'll be a thing..., the score evolved through rehearsal-based feedback and made use of a sound index generated by the performer. [5]

His theatrical and electroacoustic works explore the spatial and physical dimensions of sound. In Samsa-masjien, for instance, he used contact microphones, multi-channel speaker arrays, and real-time processing to transform voice and stage noise into immersive sound environments. [6]

In his film score for Gaia (2021), Wicomb blended acoustic timbres, including flute and Tibetan dungchen, with layered electronic textures and spectral effects. The resulting soundtrack emphasized atmospheric pacing and sonic unpredictability, contributing to the film's immersive aesthetic. [7]

Wicomb's experimentation with sound as a medium of memory and cultural inscription is further reflected in academic research. In a master's thesis by Ilana Cilliers (2016: 51–52), his composition de-composed is examined for its interplay of historical references and contemporary sonic manipulation. The piece integrates excerpts from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K.467 (1785) alongside pre-recorded environmental sounds, which are then subjected to microphone distortion and digital processing, creating a dialogue between classical and experimental sound aesthetics. [8] His interactive piece, "Composition Machine," published in the online journal herri, is an example of his experimental approach to musical creation and audience engagement. [9]

Work in film and television

Wicomb has composed music for a variety of film and television productions, ranging from thrillers and animation to experimental cinema. His film scores employ minimalist textures, unconventional instrumentations, and electronic soundscapes. One of his most recognized works is the original score for the Canal+ series Spinners, which became the first South African television series to premiere at Canneseries. [10] The series, produced in collaboration with Showmax and French broadcasters, was praised for its innovative storytelling and dynamic musical score. [11]

Wicomb also composed the soundtrack for Walt Disney's animated anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, an Afro-futurist series featuring short films from African creators. The project received widespread acclaim and won an Annie Award for its representation of African futurism in animation. [12] Wicomb's score contributed to the anthology's sonic landscape, blending electronic elements with African musical traditions.

His work on the South African eco-horror film Gaia (2021), directed by Jaco Bouwer and produced by XYZ Films and KykNet, was widely praised. The film premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, where its atmospheric sound design was noted as a key element in building tension. [13] Critics highlighted Wicomb's use of organic sounds, which mirrored the film's environmental horror themes. The Guardian described Gaia as a "chilling South African eco-horror that takes the fun out of fungi," drawing attention to its unsettling score and sound design. [14] For his work on *Gaia*, Wicomb received a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Original Soundtrack. [15]

Theatre composition

Wicomb composed the incidental music for the South African play *Samsa-masjien*, written by Willem Anker and directed by Jaco Bouwer. The production premiered at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) in 2012 and dealt with themes of aging and transformation. [16] The production won awards for Best Script, Best Actor, Best Set Design, Best Director, and Best Original Score and Sound Design, at the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. [17] [18] The play received four Kanna Awards, including the Herrie Prize for Mind-Shifting Work. [19] The play was published in 2015 by Protea Boekhuis, accompanied by a CD featuring Wicomb's original soundtrack. [20]

Festival curation, experimental music, and mentorship

Alongside composer Michael Blake, Wicomb co-founded the Purpur Festival for Transgressive Arts, an annual event in Cape Town dedicated to experimental classical music and performance art. [21] The festival, hosted at Youngblood Gallery, has featured both local and international artists, including Franziska Baumann, Christoph Baumann, Sören Hermansson, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, Jonny Axelsson, Ivo Nilsson, Joanna Wicherek, [[X[iksa]]], Africa Open Improvising, Coila-Leah Enderstein, Joakim Sandgren, Christina Viola Oorebeek, and Andile Khumalo. [22] The festival has been recognized for its contributions to avant-garde music, bringing together composers and performers from diverse backgrounds. [23]

Wicomb is also a founding member and pianist of the Africa Open Improvising group, a collective dedicated to experimental and improvisational music. [24] Through this initiative, he has explored the intersection of composition, real-time improvisation, and electronic soundscapes.

Wicomb has worked with emerging South African composers, offering guidance through platforms such as the Sterkfontein Composers Meeting, an initiative fostering collaboration between established and developing composers. [25] Established in 2012 at the Nirox Foundation in Johannesburg, the meeting provides a space for composers to engage in daily workshopping sessions with international ensembles-in-residence and guest tutors. Participants refine their compositions through collaborative rehearsals and structured discussions on compositional approaches and technical challenges. [26]

List of works

Orchestral works

Opera

Chamber music

Solo music (with or without electronics)

Works with a theatrical component

Electronic or electroacoustic works

References

  1. "South African Composers". Stellenbosch University Library Guides. Stellenbosch University. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  2. "Woordfees Pays Tribute to Late Randall Wicomb". Onlinelip2016. WordPress. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  3. "About Randall Wicomb". Netwerk24. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  4. "Begaafd clubje studenten toont kunnen in Paradiso". de Volkskrant. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  5. 1 2 Liebenberg, Visser (2021). Artistic experimentation through decolonial sound projects for clarinet (Thesis). Stellenbosch University. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  6. Cilliers, Ilana (2016). Composing Affect: Reflecting on Configurations of Body, Sound and Technology in Contemporary South African Performance (PDF) (Thesis). Rhodes University. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  7. "Gaia – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". MovieScore Media. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  8. Ilana Cilliers (2016). "Composing Affect: Reflecting on Configurations of Body, Sound and Technology in Contemporary South African Performance" (PDF). Rhodes University. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  9. "Composition Machine". Herri. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  10. "Spinners". Canneseries. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  11. "Canneseries: Spinners Showmax Africa". Variety. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  12. "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Wins 2024 Annie Award". Annie Awards. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  13. "Gaia movie review & film summary (2021)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  14. "Gaia Review – Attack of the Killer Mushrooms". The Guardian. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  15. "All the Winners at 2023's 17th Saftas". News24. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  16. "Samsa-masjien Shows Ageing as Part of the Life Cycle". de Beer Necessities. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  17. "Two Stalwarts of the Stage Recognised at Fleur du Cap Awards". Times Live. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  18. "Samsa Masjien Publication". WorldCat. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  19. "Award-Winning Production Online". Vukani News. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  20. Coetser, Johan. "Samsa-masjien: Published Edition". Tydskrif vir Letterkunde. 53 (1): 243–244. doi:10.4314/tvl.v53i1.17 . Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  21. "Purpur Festival". NewMusicSA. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  22. "Purpur Festival Overview". Cape Times. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  23. "A quirky night of transgressive arts". IOL. Cape Times. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  24. "Pierre-Henri Wicomb". Africa Open Institute. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  25. "Sterkfontein Composers Meeting". Sterkfontein Composers Meeting. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  26. "Composers Invited to Apply to the 9th Sterkfontein Composers Meeting". International Society for Contemporary Music. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  27. "Franziska Baumann – Ensembles". Franziska Baumann. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  28. "Potage Du Jour – Go South". Discogs. August 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  29. "Composition Machine – Herri". Herri. Retrieved 10 March 2025.