Peter Klatzow facts for kids

Peter James Leonard Klatzow (born July 14, 1945 – died December 29, 2021) was a famous South African composer and pianist. He wrote many different kinds of music. He also taught music at the University of Cape Town. He was a professor there and even led the College of Music.

Peter Klatzow's Life and Musical Journey

Peter Klatzow started learning music very young. He was about five years old. He went to a Roman Catholic school in Brakpan for his first lessons.

After finishing school in Johannesburg, he briefly taught music. He also taught Afrikaans at a school in Swaziland. This school was called Waterford Kamhlaba.

Studying Music Around the World

In 1964, Peter moved to London. He won a special scholarship to study music there. He went to the Royal College of Music. His teachers were famous musicians like Gordon Jacob and Kathleen Long. He won many awards for his compositions while studying.

Later, he also studied music in Italy. After that, he went to Paris. In Paris, he learned from a very famous teacher named Nadia Boulanger.

He came back to South Africa in 1966. He worked for the SABC in Johannesburg. There, he helped produce music. In 1973, he joined the South African College of Music in Cape Town. He became a professor there. He taught people how to compose music. He later became the director of the college.

Peter Klatzow passed away in Cape Town. He died on December 29, 2021, at age 76.

His Musical Works

Peter Klatzow was a composer. This means he wrote music. He wrote music for many different groups. He composed pieces for choirs, which are groups of singers. He also wrote music for orchestras. An orchestra is a large group of musicians playing many instruments. He even wrote music for ballets. Ballet music is made for dancers to perform a story.

Some of His Music

Here are a few examples of the music Peter Klatzow created:

• Still-life with Moonbeams (1974) – This was a symphonic poem.
• Dances of Earth and Fire (1988) – A piece for a marimba solo. A marimba is a musical instrument like a large xylophone.
• Hamlet: The Ballet (1991) – Music for a ballet based on Shakespeare's play.
• Ach, Bach: for Organ (1987) – A piece for the organ.
• Six Concert Etudes for Marimba – More music for the marimba.
• Music for 3 Paintings by Irma Stern – Music inspired by art.
• Mass – A type of choral work.
• Sonata for cello and piano – Music for two instruments.

Recordings of His Music

Many of Peter Klatzow's works have been recorded. This means you can listen to them.

• Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints, Op. 211 (1990) – This recording featured music by Peter Klatzow and other composers.
• A Programme of Piano Music from South Africa – This recording included piano music by Peter Klatzow. It also featured music by other South African composers.
• Towards the light – This recording has a selection of his choral works. It was recorded in Oxford by the Commotio choir.

Awards and Recognition

Peter Klatzow received many awards for his amazing musical talent.

• He was a joint winner of the International Composers' Competition in 1977.
• He won the Helgard Steyn award twice. He won in 1994 for his work From the Poets. He won again in 2014 for Lightscapes.
• The University of Cape Town (UCT) gave him a special degree. It was a Doctor of Music degree in 1999. This is a high honor for musicians.
• In 2011, he received the Huberte Rupert Music Prize. This award was from the Academy of Science of South Africa. It recognized his lifetime of work in music.