Henry Allan Fagan (1889–1963)

Abstract This chapter contains a newly crafted English translation and International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription of a poem by politically controversial former Chief Justice of South Africa, noted Afrikaans playwright, novelist, and poet H. A. Fagan, “Like the Murmuring Breeze.” Three musical settings exist by Hans Endler, co-founder of the Stellenbosch University Conservatory of Music; Johannes J. Fagan, brother of fellow composer Gideon Fagan, scored for medium/medium-high voice; and Charles Francis Oxtoby, who included this as the second song in his song cycle, Op. 36. Illuminating footnotes are provided to enhance the reader’s comprehension of the unique biodiversity of the Southern African landscape and multicultural distinctiveness of its people. Topics include hope, loss, the wind, and nature.