Introduction – Unyazi Special
Welcoming the Year With a Groove

By Natra Haniff
P O Box 850, Robinson Road
Singapore 901650
natra [@] leoalmanac [dot] org
http://leoalmanac.org


Keywords
Leonardo Electronic Almanac, LEA, Unyazi Special, South African electro-acoustic music

Abstract
LEA's first installment of 2007 functions as a special supplement to Leonardo Music Journal Volume 16 (2006) (http://leonardo.info/lmj/lmj16.html).This catchy collage of essays is ingrained with elements of multimedia that use South African electro-acoustic music as a springboard to further discussion.


Introduction
LEA's first installment of 2007 functions as a special supplement to Leonardo Music Journal Volume 16 (2006) (http://leonardo.info/lmj/lmj16.html).This catchy collage of essays is ingrained with elements of multimedia that use South African electro-acoustic music as a springboard to further discussion.

In the first piece, Jürgen Bräuninger's editorial succinctly introduces us to UNYAZI, the first South African electro-acoustic music symposium/festival. UNYAZI is the isiZulu word for lightning. Held in Johannesburg last 1-4 September 2005, UNYAZI brought together “an illustrious group of local and international electronic music practitioners”, with diversity as “the obvious festival concept.”

Several of the authors look at North-South relationships and collaborations. Pauline Oliveros is one of them. In Pauline Oliveros in the Arms of Reynols: A Collaboration, she recalls the nature and history, and philosophical and technical aspects of her encounter with the Argentinean heavy metal band Reynols, which resulted in three recordings, a couple of concerts and collaborations that “continue to this day.”

Lukas Ligeti then “explores the aesthetic and creative possibilities of the combination of African musical forms and electronics” in The Burkina Electric Project and Some Thoughts About Electronic Music in Africa.

The topic then swivels over to Latin American contemporary music, as Mexican composer Rodrigo Sigal illustrates the concepts of heritage and identity in this genre, with a special emphasis towards electroacoustic composition. The Borders of Identity, A Personal Perspective also discusses the problems of teaching and judging contemporary composition from a European perspective.

In the self-explanatory Music Technology at Stellenbosch University, Theo Herbst examines the nascent music technology program hosted at the said university by exploring four lines of thought: The theoretical and philosophical underpinnings which continuously inform the program, an introduction to content and outcomes, non-academic activities and plans for the future.

To close, Matthew Ostrowski's The Anxiety of the Client: Dilemmas of the Database as a Compositional Tool investigates the possibilities and implications of mapping databases on to sound as a compositional technique.

Let this resonating blend of pieces seep into your psyche.

Author Biography
Natra’s quest in life is to take insightful snapshots of thoughts in an ever-changing world. She is seldom seen without a notebook and pen, furiously documenting her impressions of the things around her.

After a brief but meaningful career as a media and cultural affairs officer in a particular embassy, and a stint as a media manager in a skincare company, Natra decided to delve into the world of freelancing and has spent the last two years diving into various writing projects.

This versatile communications-trained professional has contributed to various publications such as Asian Geographic, WE (World Environment), LightBox and Today’s Manager. She also continues to dabble in the skincare industry as a freelance copywriter.

Her current role as director of media and communications at Julian W. Photography affords her the luxury of exploring Asia’s natural wonders with her photography partner. Theirs is a symbiotic relationship where he takes the photographs and she does the writing.

To accommodate a love for nature that runs deep, Natra also engages herself in many of the Singapore Zoo’s educational programs. As a part-time facilitator, Natra works with school children, imparting conservation messages through hands-on activities. She also writes regularly for the zoo and was a contributing writer of The Field Guide to Singapore Zoo.

Additionally, she volunteers her time as a Singapore Zoo docent and is a consultant to the Malaysian Elephant Appeal, a non-profit organization that raises funds for an elephant sanctuary in Pahang, Malaysia.

Natra is working on her first book: A collection of anecdotes about the late Sri Utama, the first captive-born elephant in Singapore. She joined the LEA team as its editor in February 2005, and has recently been promoted to managing editor.