Composer Philip Miller talks to Gwen Ansell about his many collaborations, including his work on the TV series Roots.Many South Africans know that local music legend Caiphus Semenya provided compositions for the equally legendary 1977 TV adaptation of Alex Haley’s book Roots.Those who tuned in to the remake of the series, which premiered in SA on DStv in June, may not have realised that the SA connection continues. Music for the first episode was created by Cape Town-based composer Philip Miller, and the musicians for it included percussionist Tlale Makhene and singer Siya Makuzeni.Miller is perhaps best known here for his many collaborations with the visual artist William Kentridge. The most recent, Triumphs and Laments, involved two large bands playing as they marched towards one another beside the Tiber River in Rome, alongside a 500m-long Kentridge frieze. Created with choral arranger Thuthuka Sibisi, Miller’s music — played by ensembles including immigrants and refugees — spoke...
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