Cromwell Everson

Dr Cromwell Everson
This file may be deleted after 2007-05-12.
Head of perfroming arts department
In office 1976–1991
Preceded by	first
Succeeded by	none
Personal details
Born	28 September 1925 Beaufort West
Died	11 June 1991 Durban
Spouse	Hermine
Children	Katrienka, Ludwig and Melina
Residence	Durban
Alma mater	Stellenbosch University and University of Cape Town
Profession	Classical music Composer

Cromwell Everson was primarily known as a composer during his lifetime. He was brought up as an Afrikaner his mother was Maria De Wit and father Robert Everson. He continue this tradition and all his children was brought up as Afrikaners.

Everson wrote the first Afrikaans opera and most of his other vocal works was in Afrikaans. His works consists of five sonatas, a trio, an opera, a set on inventions, four song-cycles, a piano suite, miscellaneous movements for the piano and guitar and a incomplete symphony and string quartet.

During Everson's career in Worcester, Western Cape he also gave music lessons to the famous musician David Kramer.

Education

• 1945, Matric, Central High School, Beaufort West
• 1950, Bachelor of Music, Stellenbosch University
• 1974, Doctor of Music, University of Cape Town

Everson busy composing

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This file may be deleted after 2007-05-12.

Compositions

Vocal Works

Opera

• Klutaimnestra (eng:Clytemnestra) (Libretto, Cromwell Everson), Afrikaans opera in four acts (1967). First performance 7 November 1967, Biesenbach Hall, Worcester
• Rat a Plan (Libretto, unannotated), incomplete chamber opera (1952).

Choral

• Kyrie Eleison, SATB (1952)

Song Cycles

• Vier Liefdesliedjies ("four love songs") for soprano and piano (1949). First performance on 9 June 1955 in the Stellenbosch Conservatory of Music. First radio broadcast performance on 11 January 1960 (Switzerland).
  1. Nagliedjie (N.P. van Wyk Louw)
  2. Net altyd jy (N.P. van Wyk Louw)
  3. Nooit Nog (W.E.G. Louw)
  4. Dennebosse (N.P. van Wyk Louw.

• Kontraste (D.J. Opperman) (1951)
• Water en Woestyn (1955) re-titled Die Dobbelsteen
• Three Brontë Songs (1987)

Solo Songs

• Maria (W.E.G. Louw) for soprano and piano (1949)
• Nagstorm oor die see (D.J. Opperman) for dramatic soprano and piano (1950)
• Die Vreemde Dae (Elisabeth Eybers) for soprano and piano (1949)

Instrumental Works

Orchestral

• Symphony, an incomplete work (1953)
• Danza Senzule for chamber orchestra (1961)

Chamber Music

• String Quartet (first movement), an incomplete work (1949)
• Trio fo Viola, Violoncello and Piano (1963)
• String Quartet, an incomplete work (1970)

Solo Works

• Suite for Piano (1951)
• Prelude and Fuga for piano solo (1953-1954)
• Sonata - Variation I for piano solo (1953)
• Sonata - Variation II for piano solo (1956)
• Sonata for violin and piano (1954)
• Three Eliegies for piano solo (1970)
• Variations for piano (1978)
• Etude for piano solo (1981)
• Guitar Sonata (1984). Dedicated to David Hewitt
• Cantús Tristitae, for solo guitar (1984).
• Sonato for solo flute (1987). Dedicated to Esmé Venter.
• Sonato for violin solo (1985 rev. 1987). Dedicated to Marike Urban-Grimm.
• Wedding March for organ solo (1987). Dedicated to Ludwig en Retha Everson.

Everson composing a tune on his computer

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This file may be deleted after 2007-05-12.

Electro-Acoustical Works

• Son Staan Stil, an electronic music composition (1971)
• Seven Inventions, a computer music composition (1988)

Everson as painted by his wife Hermine Everson

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This file may be deleted after 2007-05-12.

External links

• Musicology ars nova list -Unisa
  
• Articles in Musicus - Unisa
  
• Dictonary of African Composers
  
• Arts and Humanities pages of Intute
  
• Reference to Jeffrey James Brukman's Doctor of Musicology Thesis
  
• MusicSack database
  
• Lorraine Du Toit Biograpy
  

References

• "The life and music of Cromwell Everson" by Brukman, Jeffrey James - Thesis, Doctor of Musicology, 2006
• "Komponiste van Suid-Afrika" Composers of South Africa by Bouws, Jan, publisher C.F. Albertyn (Pty) Ltd, Stelenbosch, 1971