Braam du Toit
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Braam du Toit (born 25 February 1981) is a South African composer and choral conductor.[1] He is the recipient of a number of accolades, including a South African Film and Television Award and a Naledi Theatre Award. His film scores include The Endless River (2015), Sew the Winter to My Skin (2018), and Moffie (2019).
Braam du Toit | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 25 February 1981 |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Website | braamdutoit |
Early life
Du Toit grew up in Swellendam, a town in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, where he attended Swellendam High School and lives to this day. He composed his first piece of music at 16.[2] He studied composition with Peter Klatzow at the University of Cape Town. He received the Priaulx Rainier Award for composition in 2001.[3][4]
Career
Film
His film scores have earned international recognition including awards at FESPACO, the Monaco International Film Festival, and the South African Film and Television Awards. His score for Moffie (2019) directed by Oliver Hermanus received particular international critical acclaim, with reviewers across major publications including The Guardian,[5] Los Angeles Times,[6] Hollywood Reporter, and Variety praising the score's ability to capture complex psychological states through what Screen Daily described as music that heightened the film's "intense introspection."[7]
His earlier score for Sew the Winter to My Skin (2018), which won the FESPACO Award for Best Music, was described by The Hollywood Reporter as "glistening, dreamy, mournful," adding to what the review characterized as the film's "sense of lyrical otherness."[8]
Theatre
Du Toit's theatre work has been recognized with multiple awards including the Naledi Theatre Award for Best Sound and the Fiëstas Award for Best Achievement in Classical Music.[9]
Die Kortstondige Raklewe van Anastasia W (2010), a collaboration with playwright Marlene van Niekerk and director Marthinus Basson, earned him the Aardvark toekenning vir grondverskuiwende werk (Aardvark award for groundbreaking work) at Aardklop.[10] The production generated sharply divided critical reactions. Deborah Steinmair in Beeld praised it as "a natural wonder," while Jan-Jan Joubert defended its value as "cultural protest," arguing that confronting "the gruesome barbarity of violence against children" required the production's unflinching approach.[11] However, the production's confrontational nature—which led to audience members walking out at some performances—also drew criticism for what some viewed as its excessive provocation. This polarized reception prompted scholarly analysis, with Leon de Kock and Annel Pieterse examining the work's significance as protest theatre in post-apartheid South Africa in a major article in the South African Theatre Journal.
Balbesit (2013), directed by Jaco Bouwer, featured Du Toit's music described by reviewers as "haunting and powerful."[12] The production won Kanna awards at the KKNK festival in 2013.
Poskantoor (2014), also directed by Bouwer, won Best Production at the Aardklop Arts Festival in 2014.[13] Du Toit won the Fiëstas Award for Best Achievement in Classical Music for the work, with critics describing it as "extraordinary music."[9]
Du Toit also composed music for the Trilogy (Lot/Betésda/Babbel, 2013) with director Nicola Hanekom.[10]
Artistry
Du Toit has cited John Tavener, Hildegard von Bingen, Michael Nyman, Meredith Monk, Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Vivaldi, and Steve Martland among his influences.[3] He stated he has "always been interested in combining music with other art forms," and that he finds "the reciprocal influence between music, visuals and performance intriguing and exciting."[14]
Du Toit's compositional practice spans film, theatre, and concert music. His concert works have been described as "slow, lush, and atmospheric," with dramatic intensity emerging through dynamic changes rather than aggressive musical gestures.[15] Reviewers have noted his use of music to heighten psychological states, with the Los Angeles Times describing his approach as mixing different musical styles that "atmospherically complement the emotional timeline,"[16] while the Chicago Tribune noted his technique of "alternating between enhancing and juxtaposing the tension on screen."[17]
Works
Theatre and opera
- HUIS (2002)
- Koggelmanderman (2003) by Pieter Fourie, directed by Marthinus Basson
- 'n Ander Tongval (2008)
- Smag (2008)
- Saad (2008)
- Verkeer (2008)[18]
- Trilogy: Lot / Betésda / Babbel (2009–2011)
- Antony and Cleopatra (2010)[19]
- Die kortstondige raklewe van Anastasia W (2010) by Marlene van Niekerk, directed by Marthinus Basson
- London Road (2010)
- Oscar and the Lady in Pink (2012)
- Balbesit (2013)
- Rooiland (2013)[20]
- Poskantoor (2014)[21][22]
- Huppelkind (2020) directed by Marthinus Basson
Dance
- Run! (2013)[23]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Floodline (Afrikaans: Vloedlyn) | Braam du Toit | Short film |
| Meisie | Darrell Roodt | ||
| 2008 | Ella Blue | Miniseries | |
| 2009 | Tornado and the Kalahari Horse Whisperer | Regardt van den Bergh | |
| 2011 | Odd Number | Marius van Straaten | Documentary |
| 2012 | Taste of Rain | Richard Pakleppa | |
| 2013 | Vashou-ding | Lika Berning | Short film |
| 2013 | Toevlug | Christiaan Olwagen | Short film |
| 2014 | Balbesit: 'n Studie in Stemme | Jaco Bouwer | |
| 2014 | Trippie | Nicola Hanekom | Short film |
| 2014 | Run Jose | Dave Meinert | Short film |
| 2015 | Bettie | Lika Berning, Jana Cilliers, and Catherine Meyburgh | Documentary |
| 2015 | Vryslag | Marcel van Heerden | Short film |
| 2015 | The Endless River | Oliver Hermanus | [24] |
| 2016–2021 | Die Boekklub | Series | |
| 2016 | Die Byl | Series | |
| 2016 | Vlees van my vlees | Matthys Boshoff | Short film |
| 2018 | Fine Print (Afrikaans: Fynskrif) | Louis Pretorius | 13 episodes |
| 2018 | Scenes from a Dry City | Simon Wood and François Verster | Documentary |
| 2018 | Sew the Winter to My Skin | Jahmil X.T. Qubeka | |
| 2019 | Moffie | Oliver Hermanus | [25][26] |
| 2019–2022 | Die Byl | Liezl Spies and Leon Kruger | Season 2-3, original theme music |
| 2020 | Fine Print (Afrikaans: Fynskrif) | Louis Pretorius | Music |
| 2022 | Die Byl | Liezl Spies and Leon Kruger | Season 4 |
| 2023 | Indlela Yokuphila | Dylan McGarry and Marc Moynihan | Animation, Empatheatre production |
| 2023 | Winterslaap | Leandros Braounos and Daniel Howells | Short film |
| 2023 | Reflections in a broken mirror | Composer: Archival Music | |
| 2024–2025 | Die Byl | Original theme music | |
Concert and chamber works
- "Twaalfuurkop" (1998) – piano solo
- "Die Morester" (1999) – mixed choir
- "Vertroosting" (2001) – deep female voice and drone
- "Tonteldoos" (2002)
- "Tripsongs" (2003) – string quartet
- "Gebed tot die Aardvark" (2006) – soprano and piano
- "Soft Serve" (2008) – violin and harp
- "Girltalk" (2008) – two pianos, two string quartets, and bass
- "Item 1, 2 and 3" (2009) – clarinet, cello and piano/marimba. Selected as the South African work for the ISCM World New Music Days, Sydney (2010)
- "Filigree for Florence" (2010) – flute and piano
- "Seargent, teach the prince to ride" (2012) – soprano and piano
- "My Blessing" (2016) – contralto/mezzo, string quintet and female choir (S+A)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Seoul International Drama Awards | Best Music Director | Ella Blue | Won | [a][27] |
| 2009 | Monaco International Film Festival | Best Original Music Soundtrack – Feature Film | Tornado and the Kalahari Horse Whisperer | Won | [28] |
| 2010 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Achievement in Original Score – Feature Film | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards | Best Sound Design or Original Score | The Short Shelf Life of Anastasia W | Nominated | [b] |
| 2013 | Naledi Theatre Awards | Best Sound | Trilogy: Lot / Betésda / Babbel | Won | [29] |
| 2014 | Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards | Best Sound Design or Original Score | Rooiland | Nominated | [30] |
| 2015 | Balbesit | Nominated | [31] | ||
| Fiëstas Awards | Best Achievement in Classical Music | Poskantoor | Won | [c] | |
| Best New Production | Nominated | [d] | |||
| 2019 | FESPACO | Best Music | Sew the Winter to My Skin | Won | [32] |
| 2019 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Achievement in Original Score – Television Drama | Fynskrif | Won | [33] |