A Tribute to Alex Van Heerden
2009 is off to a sad start with the passing of Alex van Heerden, who died in a car accident on Wednesday morning. Aside from being a remarkable composer, Alex’s interest in keeping traditional South African rural musics alive, and his irrepressible humanity means that South African music has suffered an irreparable loss.
He will also be missed for his sense of humour, lighthearted demeanour and complete lack of pretentiousness; despite the fragility and ethereality of much of his music, what i took from seeing him play with rural South African musicians is that playing and appreciating music is ultimately a social, and humane, pursuit.
Alex had little use for boundaries and distinctions: in his mind, minimal electronica and avant-garde jazz had the same value as vastrap and goema, and this disregard for established value systems and willingness to embrace such diversity, gave him an aesthetic, and moral, understanding of where South Africa needs to be heading. He was much more of a visionary than i think he would ever claim to be himself.
Frontier Rogue – Alex’s website
A deeply sad and incomprehensible loss to South African music and that of the the Universe in general. His death is a complete and utter conundrum…
So shocked to hear this … my PE brother from another mother , i will miss you Alex . i always loved your approach to life, and hence your approach to music … free and easy , but never safe .. the way it should be .
im sure wherever you are is a brighter place for it, and they’re lucky to have you ..
peace Mr van Heerden
Marcus
Alexander – a beautiful, beautiful being. An interesting soul who touched so many lives in so many different ways will be remembered always.
so sad, i feel so sad still – and have missed all your memorials and tributes
only the good die young, leave a good-looking corpse etc – but my fellow sagittarian/tiger the loss of such a beautiful boy is still too much to fully comprehend… your music and soul will live on and we all miss you down here on the earthly plane
love to your loved ones
xxx
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