Some South African connections among students at the Stern'sches Conservatorium der Musik in Berlin, 1850-1914

Abstract

Die doel van die navorsing was om vas te stel of enige Suid-Afrikaanse studente aan die bekende Stern-Konservatorium in Berlin studeer het in die tydperk tussen die stigting daarvan in 1850 en die uitbreek van die Eerste Wêreldoorlog in 1914. Inligting kan slegs verkry word uit die jaarverslae wat tans in die argief van die Hochschule der Künste in Berlyn geberg word. Ander dokumente (studenterapporte en briewe aan en van studente) het verlore gegaan. Die bevinding is dat altesaam 28 studente van Suid-Afrikaanse oorsprong was, insluitende een uit Namibië. Hierdie studente het dikwels Duitse vanne gehad, was met een uitsondering vroulik, het van 'n groot verskeidenheid plekke in Suid-Afrika gekom, en het gewoonlik klavier as hoofinstrument studeer - maar ook viool, sang en teorie. Berlyn het in daardie tyd 'n buitengewone aktiewe kultuurlewe gehad. Die studente sou dus blootgestel word aan 'n verbasende verskeidenheid inspirerende uitvoerings deur hulle onderwysers, medestudente, Berlynse musici en besoekende kunstenaars. Die Nederlandse student Albertha Tideman-Wijers is uitsonderlik, aangesien sy later Afrikaanse gedigte van Elisabeth Eybers getoonset het. ENGLISH: The aim of the research was to establish whether or not any South African students studied at the well-known Stern Conservatorium in Berlin between its foundation in 1850 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Information can only be gleaned from the annual reports contained in the archive of the present-day Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, as the other documents (student reports and letters to and from students) have been lost. There were 28 students from South Africa, including one from Namibia. They often had German-sounding names, were female with one exception, came from a wide variety of places in South Africa, and were mostly studying the piano, but also the violin, singing and theory, as main subjects. The cultural life of Berlin was extremely active during the time of their studies. The students would therefore have been exposed to an amazing variety of inspiring performances by their teachers, fellow students, Berlin musicians and visiting artists. The Dutch student Albertha Tideman- Wijers is exceptional as she later set Afrikaans poems by Elisabeth Eybers to music.