Vindu, André Bangambula: Piano Music

Composer(s)

Andre Bangambula Vindu (b. 1 October 1953, Kinshasa). Congolese composer, now resident in China, of mostly chamber and piano works that have been performed in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

Mr. Vindu studied harmony with Mario Gaolé, orchestration with Jean-Alcide Pierre Cellier, saxophone with Vincent Gérard and Mitzo Mitzov, and solfège with Dols Lambert and Lucy Mansicidor at the Conservatoire de Musique et d'Art Dramatique in Kinshasa from 1969–73. He also studied music at the Université de Kinshasa from 1973–76. He then studied Chinese at the Beijing Languages Institute in 1984–85 and composition with Wang Qiang and Zhao Xiao-sheng, fugue with Chen Ming-zhi and polyphony with Lin Hua at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music from 1985–91, where he earned his BA and MA and where he had postgraduate studies in 1994–95.

His music has been performed in China, Congo (Kinshasa), South Africa, the UK, and the USA.

He is also active in other positions. He served as secretary to the Conseil Zaïrois de la Musique in Kinshasa, a member of the UNESCO International Music Council, and as secretary to the Jeunesses Musicales in Kinshasa, both from 1982–84. He later served as a music manager and translator for the Shanghai Dainty Food Company in 1995, to the company for cultural development Total in Shanghai in 1996 and to the Shanghai Laina Worsted Mill Company in 1997–98.

He lectured on music theory and saxophone at the Université de Kinshasa from 1976–82. He then undertook research at the Centre d'Études et de Diffusion des Arts in Kinshasa from 1982–84, where he also taught as assistant professor, served as chair of the music department and led the experimental ensemble Maisha. In addition, he taught music at the Studio École de la Voix du Zaïre of Radio Nationale in Kinshasa from 1982–84. He later taught music for the Tsing Mui Piano Company in Hong Kong in 1992 and French for the Alliance Française in Shanghai in 1993. He has taught music privately at the Shanghai American School since 1998.