Dorothy Masuka’s Songbook in the Style of Vivaldi
A twenty-two-year-old South African violinist, Neo Motsatse, will, this year, be posthumously celebrating and honouring an iconic South African composer and musician, Dorothy Masuka, on what would have been Masuka’s eighty-seventh birthday – Saturday 3 September 2022 at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City.
The celebration, titled “Seasons: Dorothy Masuka’s Songbook in the Style of Vivaldi” is a
musical production weaving Masuka’s prolific work with that of the well-known Italian composer,
Antonio Vivaldi’s “Seasons.” True to Vivaldi’s pioneering work on “programme music,” the
performance will be interspersed with extramusical narrative expanding on Vivaldi’s
accompanying sonnets to poetically incorporate aspects of Masuka’s own musical journeys.
The importance of this work is highlighted by the fact that it brings an ensemble of twenty-two musicians on stage, representing a fusion of both the classical music and the afro-soul genres. The arrangements and some of the new compositional elements have been created by the legendary music arranger, composer and producer, JB Arthur.
Dorothy Masuka, popularly known as Mam D to her fans in South Africa, was one of the leading African singer-songwriters whose career had spanned more than six decades. She achieved early success and fame through her writing and recording her chart-topping “Hamba Nontsokolo” in the early 1950s. This was followed by compositions that were recorded by some of her more famous peers like Mirriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela.
Masuka was inducted into the American Hall of Fame in 2002 and four year later was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for “Excellent achevement in and contribution to music composition and performance,” by President Thabo Mbeki. Masuka died on 23 February 2019 on the 19th birthday of Neo Motsatse. It was also the year in which the compilation music production, Seasons: Dorothy Masuka’s Songbook in the Style of Vivaldi” was written and premiered during the National Arts Festival at Makhanda.
This is a celebration and a musical event not to be missed!
Book now and enjoy the sweet melody!
Get ready to be entertained at Gold Reef City Casino, it’s what we do!
