Noel Desmond Stockton (born 1930): arranger, composer and pedagogue

[摘要] The idea of a study on this subject was born out of the realisation that in recording the history ofmusic, many omissions occur in regard to musicians and pedagogues who made importantcontributions to the music profession. After some informal investigation in the form ofinterviews, formal research on this dissertation commenced in 1999 and the study wascompleted in December 2000.. The main aim of the study was to highlight Stockton'scontribution to music in South Africa, as one of the country's foremost Jazz artists, as well as ahighly prolific arranger, composer and pedagogue.The study is divided into the following sub-sections:Chapter 1This introductory chapter deals with the research design and research methodology. It alsostates the aims of the study as well as the necessity thereof.Chapter 2A biographical study on his life and activities, from professional pianist as a sixteen year old tolecturer in Jazz at the University of the Orange Free State. Insight regarding his developmentas an artist and pedagogue is the main thread throughout this section. After chapter two thetext is supported by visual documentation in the form of photographs.Chapter 3Here Stockton is dealt with as lecturer. His approach towards Jazz tuition, the problems hecame across during his years of teaching these and his suggestions on the teaching of variouscourses are presented in a concise, but meaningful way. Former students' views on his tuitionsupport this chapter. The chapter also deals with the compilation of a Jazz course on tertiarylevel. This section ends with a general discussion of Jazz tuition and Jazz style, constructed onStockton's own views on these issues.Chapter 4This chapter commences with discussions of Stockton's five serious compositions andconcludes with discussions on a selection of the bigger arrangements for full symphonyorchestra. Seen against the background that Stockton wrote hundreds of arrangements,discussions on the complete repertoire of these was not feasible. The analysis have beenperformed in a systematic annotated way.Chapter 5This chapter contains the conclusions of the study as well as a recommendation on theimportance of music history writing on contemporary, lesser known composers and musicianswho made enormous contributions to the music scene.In the appendixes (a) a work Iist is provided, as well as the (b) scores of the eightcompositions/arrangements discussed in chapter four. The study concludes with (c) sounddocumentation of the serious compositions on the first compact disc and a selection ofarrangements by Stockton on the second.

[发布机构] University of the Free State