Doctoral Recital (Live Footage) - Nkululeko Zungu ('Kuza)

"That Part" doctoral recital footage captured April 18, 6 PM at the Dancz Center for New Music at the University of Georgia.
To grab a copy/purchase music here, please email [e-mail]
Program
All music shared was composed by Nkululeko Zungu
"That Part" Welcome segment
1. Echoes of a Dying Breed III
2. Sana Iyho
3. Echoes of a Dying Breed I
4. Frustrations (Piano Cycle)
I; II; III; IV; V
5. Echoes of a Dying Breed II
6. Run, Hide, Flee
7. Instead of Holding On
8. Umxhentso
9. Primal
10. The Moment
The significance of the floating head
"Physical pain has no voice" Elaine Scarry - at times, all I have is my head that contains my mind - the mind that is continuously attacked internally (depression, anxiety, etc.) and externally, (society, family, friends, etc.) so I have my head here as a commentary on disembodiment. Maybe, if you just see my head, you won't be threatened by my black body or maybe, the head is humorous enough that I am no longer seen as a threat, or maybe, just maybe, the floating head and its expressions acknowledge the physical pain inflicted on black bodies.
Brief Program Notes
Echoes of a Dying Breed Cycle
This work started with a graphic score which I created in 2019 with the same title, "Echoes of a Dying Breed," where I explored the clicks of a South African language called IsiXhosa - one of my mother tongues. At the time I was inspired by two aspects of my life's journey: the sudden urge to recognize my innate "Affricanness" after having grown up Westernized in my hometown, Cape Town, and the rapid decline of the San languages in my home country, specifically, in the Cape region of South Africa. When I began my studies at the University of Georgia, I decided to focus my attention on this. Thus, Echoes of a Dying Breed cycle arose.
This cycle is a work in progress with three parts to date completed. You will note that each part steadily moves into a futuristic realm, starting from the past (acoustic) to the future (disembodied self). In each part, the clicks are pronounced and are either interpreted by another instrument or evolved in their own unique and wonderful ways through the use of electroacoustic tools. Time and space are honored in this work to encourage reflection. The specific clicks pronounced are the C, GQ, Q, and X phonemes of the Nguni dialects of South Africa which developed from interaction with the San tribes; while the San languages die, the sounds live on through languages like isiXhosa and isiZulu.
Song
Song is an art form that I enjoy immensely. As I continue to embrace my "Africanness", I honor the huge part song has played in my own life. My childhood was filled with song, be it in the homelands of South Africa or on the radio across the nation - music was introduced to me via song. These songs were shared in various genres of music, and modes of expression, be it live vocal music as can be heard with artists such as Busi Mhlongo, avant-garde Afrofuturism as can be heard with Thandiswa Mazwai, or Western-influenced genres (e.g., Pop, Hip-Hop) as can be heard through groups like Skwatta Kamp, Adilah and many more. The songs shared this evening display an array of styles and forms of expression heavily inspired by some of my favorite singer/songwriters/performers: Moses Sumney, Sevdaliza, Serpentwithfeet, James Blake, Beyoncé, and many more. I thank them for embracing their intrinsic truths and encouraging me to do the same. The songs shared this evening are Sana Iyho, Run, Hide, Flee, Instead of Holding On, Primal, and The Moment.
For more Program Notes: drive.google.c...
Stream Songs:
Sana Iyho (TBA)
Run, Hide, Flee (TBA)
Instead of Holding On (TBA)
Primal
open.spotify.c...
The Moment open.spotify.c...
Production Team
Artist: ‪'Kuza
Mixed: @harmonizeto
Mastered: @heproducedit
Lights: @brysocki
Visual: Cicely Osbourne, and the team at UGA Film and Media department
Dancers: @sincerely.bia @harmonizeto
Performers
Dr. Bryan Wysocki, percussion
DawgBytes, New Music Ensemble (Mia Hill, voice; Ally McKoon, clarinet; William Emde, trombone; Sydney Passmore, cello)
Aly Soriano, piano
Karthik Pai, producer
Asila Folds, singer
Sean Smith, violin
Lauren McClary, violin
Ro Bonilla-Piedra, viola
Sierra Wojtczack, cello
Bianca, UGA Pamoja Dancer
Site: harmonizeto.com
#doctoralrecital #newmusic

[@cbfall]

Absolutely Fantastic!!!!

[@Goodfolk1991]

You’re the man !

[@Siphiwo21]

Nice one little bro, definitely a sound that has the influences of B/MJ/PRINCE.......Keep doing what you do!!!