Leading Aids scientist was an avid composer
mainThe South African born scientist Joseph Sonnabend, who died this weekend aged 88, was a busy part-time composer.
This was to be his last recorded work.
I’m deeply saddened to learn that Dr Joseph Sonnabend, one of the most important figures in the history of AIDS, died yesterday. I spent time with him in 2018 for one of the last interviews he ever gave. Let me tell you about this man and what he did: 1/https://t.co/XSPEfZKzBr
— Patrick Strudwick (@PatrickStrud) January 25, 2021
The twitter account vividly encapsulates the remarkable man I knew for the past 15 years or so.
” It was as if the whole (AIDS)pandemic was buried in him, weighing him down, often bubbling up…..He was traumatised. Spiky. Brilliant”
Joe’s last interview was on Radio 3 in November, where he recalled the hive of cultural treasure he experienced as a result of the (mostly Jewish) refugees in the isolated town of Bulawaya. Aged 12 he was particularly struck by Berg’s Wozzeck via his mum’s record collection and you can hear the influence in his music.
RIP