Dr. Jacobus (Kobie) Kloppers

Professor Emeritus of Music
F202, 780-465-3500 x8023
Email: jacobus.kloppers@kingsu.ca

Ph.D (Musicology), Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
B.A., B.Mus (Honors), University of Potchefstroom, South Africa
UPLM and UTLM (Organ), University of South Africa
FRCCO (h.c.), Royal Canadian College of Organists

Jacobus ("Kobie") Kloppers has taught Musicology and Organ in South Africa and Canada and given organ recitals, including broadcast work for the SABC and CBC. He has served as a church organist, examiner, composer and organ advisor. He served on the Organ Advisory Committee of the Winspear Centre (1994-2002), Edmonton and oversaw the final voicing of the new Davis Concert Hall Organ in the Centre. He is a member of the Canadian League of Composers, voting member of the Canadian Music Centre, The Edmonton Composers Concert Society and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. His musical compositions have been performed and broadcast in Europe, the Americas and South Africa.

Dr. Kloppers also serves as Adjunct Professor in Keyboard at the University of Alberta.

Jacobus Kloppers (born 1937 in Krugersdorp, South Africa) is Professor of Organ and Musicology at The King’s University College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Adjunct Professor in Keyboard at the University of Alberta. After completing his undergraduate work and Organ Licentiates in South Africa, he continued his studies in Frankfurt/Main: Organ with Helmut Walcha at the Musikhochschule (1961-1965), and Musicology at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University (1961-1966). His doctoral thesis focused on the performance of Bach’s organ music. Since 1966 he has taught Musicology and Organ in South Africa and Canada and given organ recitals, including broadcast work for the SABC and CBC. Related work includes that of church organist, examiner, composer and organ advisor (23 projects). He served on the Organ Advisory Committee of the Winspear Centre (1994-2002), Edmonton and oversaw the final voicing of the new Davis Concert Hall Organ in the Centre. He is a member of the Canadian League of Composers, voting member of the Canadian Music Centre, The Edmonton Composers Concert Society and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists.

His compositions (around 70) include works sponsored by Canada Council, CBC, The Royal Canadian College of Organists, the Marjorie Young Bell Fine Arts and Music Fund at Mount Allison University, Sackville NB, the South African Foundation for the Creative Arts and various private sponsors. They comprise organ solo works for liturgical and concert use, an organ concerto, various anthems and choral music, two organ suites for organ duet, reflections for piano solo, Jack and the Bean Stalk for organ and narrator, as well as a Triptych, Carolingian Temperaments for organ and alto-saxophone. His music has been performed in Europe, North and South America, Hong Kong and South Africa. The Canticle of the Sun, for mixed chorus, brass and organ was commissioned by The Friends of the Winspear Centre, Edmonton and performed at the inaugurational gala of the Davis Organ, September 14, 2001. The Polish Chamber Choir performed his Te Deum for Mixed Choir, Organ and Timpani in May, 2005 at the 15th Gaude Mater Festival of Religious Music in Czestochowa, Poland. At Polish saxophonist Dariusz Samol’s request the organ-saxophone Triptych Carolingian Temperaments was reworked and orchestrated in 2005 as an Alto-Saxophone Concerto to be premiered at the 4th International Saxophone Festival in Szczecin, Poland in April 2006.

Read Dr. Kloppers' Complete List of Publications

Education

* Ph.D (Musicology), Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
* B.A., B.Mus (Honors), University of Potchefstroom, South Africa
* UPLM and UTLM (Organ), University of South Africa
* FRCCO (h.c.), Royal Canadian College of Organists

Selected Compositional Works

WORKS FOR LARGER INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE

[2005], Concerto for Alto-Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra (Concerto in quattro umori). Premiere Szczecin, Poland, 2006. Computer-generated score 2006, Canadian Music Centre, Toronto

[1986/1991, Edmonton], Concerto for Organ, Strings and Tympani, Canadian Music Centre, Toronto (Computer- generated score 2005), CD Dancing Ice 1993. [Arktos 94002] Edmonton] (1994)

WORKS FOR CHORAL ENSEMBLE

1994, Te Deum for SATB, Organ and Timpani, Commissioned by The South African Foundation for Creative Arts, Canadian Music Centre (Computer Generated Score, 2005). Performance by Polish Chamber Choir, Broadcast Polish Radio 2, August 2005

2002, Edmonton, Canticle of the Sun for SATB, 2 Trumpets, 4 Fr. Horns, 3 Trombones, Tuba and Organ. Commissioned by the Friends of the Winspear Centre, for the Inaugurational Gala Concert of the new Davis Pipe Organ in the Winspear Centre, Edmonton, September 14, 2002. Canadian Music centre, Toronto (Computer-generated score 2002)

1985-86, Edmonton, Festive Anthem "A Mighty Fortress is our God" for Trumpet, SATB and optional Brass. Commissioned by University Choir of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Canadian Music Centre, Toronto (Manuscript 1991); [Compact Disc Acama Fick in Konsert met Afrikaanse Koormusiek, 1997 Janus Musiek, JNSD 57]

1989/1995, Edmonton, Anthem "The King of Love my Shepherd is" for Soprano, Alto, SA Choir and Organ, Gordon V. Thompson Music/Warner/Chappell Music Canada (1998), Canadian Music Centre 2005

1991, Edmonton, Anthem "Hosanna" for Children's Choir, SATB and Organ. Commissioned by St. John's Anglican Church, Edmonton, Morning Star Music Publishers (1992)

1993, Edmonton, Anthem "How Lovely are your Dwellings" for SATB, Flute and Organ. Commissioned by Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Edmonton, Gordon V. Thompson Music/Warner/Chappell Music Canada (1998)

PIANO MUSIC

1998, Edmonton, Reflections: Prologue, Variations and Epilogue on an Afrikaans Folk Song, Commissioned by CBC, Canadian Music Centre, Toronto, (Manuscript, 1999)

ORGAN DUETS

1993, Edmonton, Memoirs of a Canadian Organist (9 Character Pieces). Commissioned by the CBC for Joachim Segger and Marnie Giesbrecht, Canadian Music Centre (Computer-generated print 2001), CD Dancing Ice 1993. Arktos 94002

1997, Edmonton, Dance Suite for Organ Duet. Commissioned for Philipp Crozier and Sylvie Poirier, Canadian Music Centre, Toronto (Manuscript, 1999), CD Duos pour Orgue, Amberola, Montréal,Canada, 1998

ORGAN AND OTHER MEDIUMS

1994, Edmonton, Triptych "Carolingian Temperaments" for Alto-Saxophone and Organ. Commissioned by the Edmonton Composers Concert Society for Charles Stolte, Canadian Music Centre (Manuscript, 1999; computer-generated print late 2006)

1995/1997, Jack and the Bean Stalk: Classic Fairy Tale Retold for Narrator and Organ (music and text by composer), Commissioned by the Royal Candian College of Organists for Tammy-Jo Mortenssen, Canadian Music Centre (Manuscript, 1999)

SOLO ORGAN PIECES

1992, Edmonton, Dialectic Fantasy. Commissioned by The South African Foundation for Creative Arts, Computer-generated print, University of South Africa (1996), Canadian Music Centre; CD Südafrikanische Orgelmusik. Eddie Davey on the Rieger Organ at the Old Mutual Hall , Pretoria, South Africa, 1997. Querstand, Altenburg, Germany

2003/04, Edmonton. Celtic Impressions Commissioned by Marjorie Young Bell Foundation, Mount Allsion University, Sackville NB for Gayle Martin. Canadian Music Centre (Manuscript, 2005), CD Celtic Impressions, GHM-003, 2006

1984, Edmonton, Triptych based on Hymn Tunes by Ralph Vaughan Williams ; Canadian Music Centre (Computer-generated print, 1999); CD “Acclamations”, Stillman Matheson 2004. ECLECTRA ECCD-2063 2004

1983, Edmonton, Three Plainsong Settings. Commissioned by Concordia Music Publishers; Concordia (1984),CD Südafrikanische Orgelmusik. Eddie Davey on the Rieger Organ at the Old Mutual Hall , Pretoria, South Africa, 1997. Querstand, Altenburg, Germany

1987, Edmonton, Introduction and Toccata on "Lasst uns erfreuen", Kenwood Press (1991) ); CD Now and Then, Marnie Giesbrecht, organist 2002 Arktos 200255

2003, Edmonton, Cantabile and Scherzo on the Name Gerald Bales.Commissioned by the Royal Canadian College of Organists, Toronto Printed 2004 TDL-RCCO

1982 Pastorale on Psalm 23. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri, 1983, 5 Chorale Preludes Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri

1985-87, Edmonton, Three Christmas Hymns ; Morning Star Music Publishers(1988), LO 6 (1989, # 1, 3 only) ); CD Now and Then, Marnie Giesbrecht, organist 2002 Arktos 200255

1987, Edmonton, Little Partita on "Now Thank We All Our God", Kenwood Press (1990)

2005, Edmonton, Wondrous Love: Little Partita for Organ Solo. Commissioned by the Royal candaian College of Organists – Edmonton Centre Canadian Music Centre (Manuscript, 2005)

Selected Research Publications and Editorial Work

1966 Kloppers, Jacobus, J. K. Die Interpretation und Wiedergabe der Orgelwerke Bachs: Ein Beitrag zur Bestimmung von stilgerechten Prinzipien. Dissertation, Frankfurt am Main: Bildstelle der J. W. Goethe-Universität, 1966; rpt. 5 times. The Interpretation and Rendering of the Organ Works of J. S. Bach: A Contribution towards the Establishment of Authentic Style Principles.

1970 Retoriek en Musiek. 'n Kort Betragting van die samehang tussen die twee kunste. Acta Germanica, 5 (1970), 1+3-59. "Rhetoric and Music: A Brief Consideration of the Relation between the two Arts".

1971 Die Suid-Afrikaanse gereformeerde Kerkmusiek en resente ontwikkeling op die Europese vasteland. Acta Academica, 3 (1971), 43-55. ''Church Music in the South African Reformed Churches in the Light of contemporary Developments in continental Europe"

1971 Die verband tussen musiekestetiese beskouing en vertolking, soos geillustreer aan die werk van J. S. Bach. Professorale intreerede, U.O.V.S., August, 1971), 25pp. "Interpretation and Rendering of Music and its Aesthetic Basis illustrated by the Works of J.S. Bach.'' Inaugural Address. University of the Orange Free State, S.A., August, 1971.

1973, met Barbara Louw, red. Liturgiese Orgelmusiek, Band 1: Musiek vir die kerklike huweliksbevestiging en begrafnisdiens. Kaapstad: Studio Holland, 1973, 58 pp. as co-editor with Barbara Louw. Liturgical Organ Music, Vol. 1: Music for Marriage and Funeral Services. Capetown, 1973.

1975 met Barbara Louw, red. Liturgiese Orgelmusiek, Band 2: Verwerkings van die Geneefse melodie van Psalm 42. Kaapstad: Studio Holland, 1975, 50 pp. Liturgical Organ Music, Vol. 2: Chorale Preludes on the Bourgeois Melody of Psalm 42: contains works by Goudimel, Le Jeune, Jeep, Pachelbel, Walther, Oley, Boehm, J.S. Bach, Reger, Kirckstatt, Wieruszowski , as well as contributions by various South African composers.

1975 Wysgerige grondprobleme in die Musiekwetenskap, in Op al sy akkers, feesgeskrif vir Prof. H. J. Strauss. Onder redaksie van Prof. Frans Wessels. Sacum, Bloemfontein, 1975, pp. 124-33. "Philosophical Problems in Musicology," in On all his fields, Festschrift in honour of the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. H. J. Strauss.

1976 A Criterion for manual Changes in the Organ Works of Bach. The Organ Yearbook, 7 (1976), 9 pp. 1983 Musical Rhetoric and Other Symbols of Communication in Bach's Organ Music. Man and Nature Yearbook of Canadian Society for 18th Century Studies, 3

1986 Probleme rondom die vertolking van Bach se orrelwerk. Vir die Musiekleier 6/2 (1986), 37-61 Problematic issues surrounding the Performance of Bach’s Organ Music [200] The Importance of Musical Rhetoric for the Performance of J.S. Bach's Organ Music. In Vir Die Musiekleier 27 SAKOVS, South Africa, December 2000, pp. 12-31

2001/02 Musical Rhetoric and other Symbols of Communication in Bach’s Organ Music. In Ars Nova UNISA MUSICOLOGICA, Vol. 33/34

Dr. Jacobus (Kobie) Kloppers

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