A history of the Endler Hall as cultural space

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Endler Hall has emerged as a prestigious concert hall with remarkable acoustics. Although it functions primarily as an academic facility of the Stellenbosch University Music Department, it has, since its creation in 1978, become a significant cultural space. The Music Department's origins date back to 1905 and it is within this history that the Endler Hall finds its context. The hall represents the aspirations of several generations of academics and musicians, and it is still being used to express the aspirations of present generations.This research study begins by evaluating the history of the Stellenbosch Music Department. By assessing the paradigms of the institution's leaders, as well as their contributions made to the areas of teaching, performance, and research, the study will further discover how the value for Western classical music was lived out. The research focuses considerable attention towards Richard Behrens and the process by which he planned the Endler Hall and the building in which it is situated.The research accounts for the apartheid government that existed in South Africa, and attempts to record the extent to which the Music Department, the Endler Hall, and staff and students – were influenced.The penultimate chapter of the study examines the cultural relevance and significance of the Endler Hall, through factors such as acoustics, aesthetics, community music, education, the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, and issues concerning technological improvements and concert programming.A common theme that weaves its way through the study exists as what has been labelled, the silent narrative. In this way the research has aspired to advocate or propose what could have been. For example, what kinds of music could have been performed in the Endler? What kind of facility would the Endler Hall have been if it were built by people with different aspirations and in a different time? And how do these questions elicit a response that will determine the decisions of today?

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University