The life and legacy of Harold David (Hal) Shaper (1931-2004)

Abstract

This dissertation presents an account of the life and work of the South African Lyricist Harold David (Hal) Shaper (1931-2004). The wealth of archival material that the project has uncovered is due to Shaper having meticulously kept most of his correspondence, diaries, song-writing drafts and autobiographical notes, as well as newspapers cuttings and magazine articles pertaining to his career. This study aims to provide an insight into his life and his hitherto largely unknown achievements, before the relevant documents are lost or dispersed. Shaper's family roots stem from Jewish persecution in eastern Europe. His mother was born in Poland, and his father in England, of Russian immigrant parents. His parents both came to South Africa in the early 1900s in search of a better quality of life. This background, and his parents' meeting in Cape Town, are detailed in Chapter One. Chapter Two describes Shaper's early years, which were spent in the Cape Town suburb of Muizenberg, and it was here, at the age of fourteen, that he decided that he wanted to be a songwriter. Even while studying in Cape Town to be a lawyer, he confidently and determinedly set about achieving his song-writing ambitions. Chapter Three follows Shaper's move to London, and his development as a lyricist, which resulted in his working with some of the foremost artists and composers of his generation He also wrote the lyrics for several successful musical theatre productions. These are discussed in detail in Chapter Four. After a very successful song-writing and business career overseas, Shaper returned to South Africa in 1992, when the political climate had begun to change. His considerable contribution to the artistic life of post-apartheid South Africa is explored in Chapter Five. His creation of a South Africa version of La Bohème, which he called La Bohème: Noir, helped ensure the continued survival of opera at a time of political change, when the relevance and cost of this art form were being questioned Shaper was also instrumental in locating the long-lost burial record and grave of Enoch Sontonga, the composer of Nkosi sikele' iAfrika. This, too, is described in Chapter 5. While he was living and working in England, Shaper founded his own music publishing company, the Sparta Florida Music Group Ltd, which he expanded to include song production and recording. Chapter Six gives a brief overview of his business interests. The dissertation ends with a conclusion which summarises the most important achievements of the life and legacy of Hal Shaper, and the events and people that shaped it.