Niel van der Watt

Niel van der Watt (born Gerhardus Daniel van der Watt, on 28 December 1962) is a South African composer.

Well known for his choral compositions, he has also established himself as a leading composer of chamber music.

Well known for his choral compositions, he has also established himself as a leading composer of chamber music.

Born into a family of teachers in Pretoria, Niel attended high school in Pietersburg (now Polokwane) in South Africa.

Born into a family of teachers in Pretoria, Niel attended high school in Pietersburg (now Polokwane) in South Africa.

After matriculating in 1980 he studied at the University of Pretoria, where he attained the BA Ed(Mus), BMus(Hons) cum laude and an MMus in Composition.

After matriculating in 1980 he studied at the University of Pretoria, where he attained the BA Ed(Mus), BMus(Hons) cum laude and an MMus in Composition.

In 1997 he completed his Doctorate in Musicology at the University of South Africa with a doctoral dissertation on the life and works of the British composer Gerald Finzi.

In 1997 he completed his Doctorate in Musicology at the University of South Africa with a doctoral dissertation on the life and works of the British composer Gerald Finzi.

In 1997 he completed his Doctorate in Musicology at the University of South Africa with a doctoral dissertation on the life and works of the British composer Gerald Finzi.

In 1997 he completed his Doctorate in Musicology at the University of South Africa with a doctoral dissertation on the life and works of the British composer Gerald Finzi.

After his military service in the old South African Defence Force, he joined the staff of Pretoria Boys High School, a prominent South African public school, where he is currently head of the Music Department and conductor of both the orchestra and Dixie Band.

After his military service in the old South African Defence Force, he joined the staff of Pretoria Boys High School, a prominent South African public school, where he is currently head of the Music Department and conductor of both the orchestra and Dixie Band.

Van der Watt has also arranged a significant amount of traditional African music for choir as well as setting leading Afrikaans poetry to music, including the works of Antjie Krog and N.P. van Wyk Louw.

Van der Watt has also arranged a significant amount of traditional African music for choir as well as setting leading Afrikaans poetry to music, including the works of Antjie Krog and N.P. van Wyk Louw.

While van der Watt's early works show the influence of late romanticists like Rachmaninoff and Fauré, his mastery of harmony and counterpoint reveals a deep understanding of and reverence for the great master Johann Sebastian Bach.

While van der Watt's early works show the influence of late romanticists like Rachmaninoff and Fauré, his mastery of harmony and counterpoint reveals a deep understanding of and reverence for the great master Johann Sebastian Bach.

While van der Watt's early works show the influence of late romanticists like Rachmaninoff and Fauré, his mastery of harmony and counterpoint reveals a deep understanding of and reverence for the great master Johann Sebastian Bach.

While van der Watt's early works show the influence of late romanticists like Rachmaninoff and Fauré, his mastery of harmony and counterpoint reveals a deep understanding of and reverence for the great master Johann Sebastian Bach.

While van der Watt's early works show the influence of late romanticists like Rachmaninoff and Fauré, his mastery of harmony and counterpoint reveals a deep understanding of and reverence for the great master Johann Sebastian Bach.

This, offset by a keen appreciation for jazz, rock and traditional African music, has made his oeuvre especially distinctive.

This, offset by a keen appreciation for jazz, rock and traditional African music, has made his oeuvre especially distinctive.

Although he is a Protestant, he has composed a large amount of Roman Catholic liturgical music, including two Masses and a Requiem.

Although he is a Protestant, he has composed a large amount of Roman Catholic liturgical music, including two Masses and a Requiem.

Although he is a Protestant, he has composed a large amount of Roman Catholic liturgical music, including two Masses and a Requiem.