DREAMS VS REALITY

This past week really questioned and challenged my supposed mission that directs and motivates this little life of mine. I thought about whether my ethnomusicological mission is far fetched and impossible to complete in one lifetime. Meeting Professor Mzilikazi KHUMALO fueled these insecurities even more, especially because his experience of life is exceptionally longer than mine and is professionally focused on one ethnic group.

He spoke about his study of Zulu traditional music and his application of it in the choral music genre. His insight in Zulu traditional music marries the linguistic and musical nature of Zulu music. I became more intimidated by this dream I have of wanting to understand each South African cultural group from an ethnomusicological perspective. I must admit that I am not the most talented when it comes to knowing many languages, although, my abilities lie in analysis and open-mindedness. I believe that having a healthy dosage of curiosity also helps.

Andre le Roux, SENA’s general manager, is the one who kindly introduced Vorster and I to Professor KHUMALO. Mr Le Roux made me realize just how clueless I am when it comes to the South African music business. Archiving also reveals how I am not alone in this predicament. I am beginning to wonder whether this is a “Light Music bug” because most of the people I record in the Light Music archiving system are not published. Perhaps they do not have access to this kind of information. Perhaps they are not looking hard enough. Perhaps they are not reading because Noelene Kotzé, my supervisor, informed me that this knowledge is in the little brochures that one can collect at SAMRO. Although this is a great idea, most up-coming composers I know don’t even know where SAMRO is. As I write this sentence nê, I find myself laughing about this because any negative reactions are guaranteed to tear me apart one way or another. Perhaps I worry about the future too much. Perhaps finding a solution to this communication problem between musicians and SAMRO will resolve any animosity that may arise.

Speaking of animosity, I just read an article on the Music Industry Online magazine about musicians and composers who want to strike against SAMRO’s supposed royalty management rules that composers feel are against their interests. Could this be the result of a communication breakdown or misunderstanding between SAMRO and its members? I would not comment at this early stage until I understand the dynamics at play.

On a slightly different tangent though, Ptolemy Thompkins' book titled "The Book Of Answers" may have inspired a strange dream I had last night- Life is just too short- last night I dreamed that I died. Right now, I just want to live and do all that I can to be happy and contribute to others’ happiness. I really enjoy archiving and I believe that this experience will help me in contributing to others’ happiness-even just a little bit.