Bowed Electrons at !Khwa ttu

Concert

  • © Clive Pringle/Trilogy
  • © Hoin Ji
  • © Paul Modler
  • © Hoin Ji
  • © Clive Pringle/Trilogy
  • © Paul Modler
Date(s)
Sat, 15 Jun 2024
Time
13:00
Venue
!Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre

As part of the Intercultural Media and Music Practice (IMMP) programme and in collaboration with the Bowed Electrons electro-acoustic festival, a live performance took place at the !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre. IMMP, led by Dr. Paul Modler, is a translocal exchange project funded by the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, connecting sound and media art practitioners between the Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe and the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town.

Musicians presented a structured improvisation combining traditional African instruments with self-built synthesizers. The performance culminated a two-week workshop led by Prof. Dizu Plaatjies, Lorenz Schwarz, and Dr. John Richards, where participants explored African instruments rooted in San cultural heritage alongside DIY electronics and experimental sound design.

The Bowed Electrons festival, hosted annually by the South African College of Music at UCT, provides a platform for electro-acoustic music and dialogue between technology and tradition.

Contributing Artists

Dizu Plaatjies, Kurt Diedericks, Thabisa Dinga, Bathandwa Magqaza, Simphiwe Matole, Lakheni Ntsodo, Azile Plaatjies, Ukwanda Plaatjies, John Richards

Production & Documentation

  • Artistic Direction: Lorenz Schwarz, John Richards, Paul Modler, Dizu Plaatjies
  • General Management: Theo Herbst
  • Concept Development: Theo Herbst, Paul Modler, Lorenz Schwarz
  • Concert Production: Theo Herbst, Paul Modler, Lorenz Schwarz
  • Technical Coordination / Sound Engineer: Izan Greyling
  • Live Stream Management: Clive Pringle

Collaborations

  • South African College of Music (SACM), University of Cape Town (UCT)
  • !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre (venue partner)
  • Trilogy Audio Cape Town (live stream technical support)

Acknowledgments

  • Michael Daiber (General Manager, !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre)
  • Paul Rommelaere
  • Matthew Pratt (further documentation)

Funding / Support

This event was made possible through the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for university students – BWS plus, a programme of the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung. BWS plus supports innovative cooperative projects between universities in Baden-Württemberg and international partner institutions.