Prof Gunter Pulvermacher

Prof Gunther Heinrich Pulvermacher 

Musicologist and former Dean of the Faculty of Music, University of Cape Town (1966-1973)

(22 March 1908, Breslau - 6 March 1987, Cape Town)

Gunther Pulvermacher's forbears, especially on his mother's side, were particularly musical. Therefore it was not surprising that he showed early talent; his training started in his fifth year, with piano lessons. It was furthered at his school in Breslau, a humanistic gymnasium, where his subjects included history of art, comparative religion and music appreciation; he was also involved in the choir and orchestra. This education laid the basis for a life-long interest in ethno-musicology and comparative aesthetics. On leaving school, he taught piano and coached singers and ballet dancers at the Opera House whilst furthering his education at the local University (1931-1936) with a study of Musicology and Germanistics. His supporting subjects were of significance for his career: History of art, Philosophy and Indology. 

In 1936 he was married to one of his private pupils, Irmgard Schwenk, a pharmacist, and soon afterwards the couple emigrated to South Africa, due to political pressures in Germany. They settled in Cape Town and for the first two years Mrs Pulvermacher worked as a pharmacist while her husband supplemented their income by giving lectures on music to the general public. (These lectures became a feature of musical life in certain circles and continued for many years.)

From 1938 Pulvermacher was employed by the SABC in their Cape Town studios, as an arranger of programmes, an assistant in the record library and a some-time accompanist. An injury to his hand unfortunately put an end to professional performance, but he was able to continue his work as a programme arranger whilst at the same time becoming a part-time lecturer at the College of Music (1945 ).

After seven years he became a full time lecturer and in 1960, was promoted to senior lecturer. In 1962-1963 and again in 1965-1966, following Chisholm's death, he was Acting Director of Music and in 1966 he became a permanent Professor at the College. In 1968 he received the ultimate accolade when he was appointed Dean. He retired in 1973, but continued to lecture on a part-time basis up to 1983. 

Pulvermacher's contribution to the College of Music was far-reaching. He instituted many new courses, and revised old ones. Through him it became possible, for instance, to do a diploma in Music Librarianship, or a graduate course on the music ethnology of the Near East and Far East - the first time such courses had been available anywhere in South Africa. His particular interest was music therapy; he lectured widely on the subject and was instrumental in founding the Society of Music Therapists in 1973 (he was appointed honorary president of the Society of Music Therapy). On his representations, the University of Cape Town has adopted the subject as a formal discipline and from 1984 Music Therapy was offered as a two-year post-graduate diploma course. *later discontinued*

As a musicologist Pulvermacher's interest has centred on comparative aesthetics and the correlation between music and the arts. He has often lectured on this subject at the summer schools for adult education organized by the University's Division for Extramural Studies. Other subjects on which he has lectured include "The musical salon of the nineteenth century", "Contemporary music" and "Music and astronomy".

He died on 6 March 1987.

Source

Interview with Professor Pulvermacher by Dr Lily Wolpowitz, 1983.

Malan, Dr. Jacque P., ed. South African Music Encyclopaedia. Vol. 4. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979, 143-144.