Abstract:
The Afrikaans author Hennie Aucamp employs performing music artists prominently as a topic in ten of his short stories. Some artists portrayed had been capable of performing music long ago. These characters are usually depicted as older, pathetic people. Among them are Miss Lizzie in "Die les" and Alfons in "Die benefiet-voorstelling". Others are artists who accept the challenge of performance in spite of their circumstances, and who touch the hearts of those around them with their ecstatic portrayals. Among them count Tant Hester in "Die Caledonner", Suster Gloria in "When the saints go marching in" and the elderly singer in "Met alles mag jy kwistig wees". Thirdly, there are those performing artists who practise their art after an interruption of many years, like Lady in "Wolf, wolf hoe laat is dit?" and Ouma in "Hoe ry die Boere sit-sit so". For both it is a liberating experience. The child prodigy in Aucamp's latest short story, "Die Wunderkind en Madame Clara: 'n Fantasiestück", does not belong to any of the three groups. She is young and impetuous, and goes to play for the famous and ageing pianist Clara Schumann, who is no longer capable of playing well. Reference is also made to short stories by Isak Dinesen and Thomas Mann.
