HARTENBOS NEWS - A Mossel Bay man who has written hundreds of poems has had some of them turned into songs.
Pieter le Roux's anthologies of poems are Bokkiekaroo, Driftwood of our memories, Watched by an Angel Boytjie op die John Deere and Woordgilde.
Le Roux (78) started writing when he was in standard five in primary school, he says. He went on to be a teacher.
"At a young age, I listened to songs and wished that one day I could write poems like them."
Rhythm
Indeed, Le Roux's poems do have a rhythm and a beat and lend themselves to be turned into songs.
Le Roux also paints pictures with his words.
He asked veteran musician Vernon Barnard of Hartenbos to put music to his poems.
Barnard says: "I've been working with Pieter for the last three years.
"I've done about 50 or 60 songs for him. I transpose the poetry into music."
All sorts of subjects
Le Roux writes on all sorts of subjects, in English and Afrikaans.
Barnard says he finds Le Roux's poetry outstandingly good.
He can't use whole poems in four-minute songs, because they are too long, so he chooses which words to use.
Le Roux's nostalgic poem, Sonplaas, is about the Overberg area and the bokmakierie bird (bushshrike).
Barnard has put music to this.
Full production
Barnard says: "I do a full production for Pieter. I put all the musical instruments together, do all the vocals, the melody, harmony and guitars.
"I do different styles for different poems, such as country, rock or pop. It's a lot of work, but I love it."
Le Roux then sends the songs to radio stations, music interest groups and puts them on YouTube and Facebook.
Contact Le Roux (pieterleroux1950@ gmail.com) and Barnard (079 746 5688) if you would like to speak to them about their projects or collaborate in any way.
Listen to two of the songs by clicking below:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BFfqReycZ/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15tqB7VMx7/
Pieter le Roux above and below, the covers of his anthologies of poems.
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