Buchuland (Mss Acc 121)

Abstract

Buchuland, an opera in three acts, was commissioned by the Unisa Music Foundation with funds made available from the Art & Culture Trust of the President for the 23rd World Conference of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) held at the State Theatre during July 1998. The Conference was hosted and presented by the University of South Africa, the State Theatre, Pretoria, the City Council of Pretoria and the University of Pretoria from 19-25 July 1998.

South African newspapers have been full of stories of people who are claiming land which belonged to them and from which they were forcibly removed. In these stories lies the genesis of the opera Buchuland. It is a story of people who loved the land and, thirty five years later, eventually triumphed and returned to their land.

Buchu is an indigenous herb found in many parts of South Africa. The name “Buchu” comes from the Khoi language, the Khoi people having been the first to recognise its medical qualities.

The opera was composed by the South African composer, Roelof Temmingh. The librettist, Michael Williams, was the director and David Scarr the conductor of the opera.

The opera in three acts was sung in English and Afrikaans with English subtitles.

The papers were donated to the Unisa Library by the Unisa Music Foundation in 1998.

The material includes correspondence, vocal scores, scripts, libretto and the complete orchestral material. The conductor’s score is not included in the material. Most of the materials are photocopies.