Haiku (2017)
for solo piano
Afrikosmos Volume 2: No 13
Dedicated to Lloyd T Prince
Composed 2 March 2017, Sterkfontein, Gauteng, South Africa; 28 July 2018, Saint-Léger-Magnazeix
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Score BDE 1282 (Volume 2 Complete)
Duration: 2 minutes
Recording
Recorded by Antony Gray on 'Michael Blake: Afrikosmos’ (Divine Art DA 21374)
Première
First performance: 21 August 2021; Le Genesteix Concerts, Azat-le-Riz, France;
Antony Gray piano
Further performance: 22 September 2022; Chisholm Recital Room, Cape Town; Antony Gray piano
(South African première); 21 June 2023; Goldsmiths College London; Antony Gray piano
(UK première)
Programme note
Haiku substitutes pitches for words within the structure of the traditional haiku, five - seven - five. Inspired by Graham Dukas's 'Haiku': "Eventually / they dismantled the rainbow / colour by colour", it reduces the South African national anthem to a musical essence: 17 long sustained notes.
for solo piano
Afrikosmos Volume 2: No 13
Dedicated to Lloyd T Prince
Composed 2 March 2017, Sterkfontein, Gauteng, South Africa; 28 July 2018, Saint-Léger-Magnazeix
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Score BDE 1282 (Volume 2 Complete)
Duration: 2 minutes
Recording
Recorded by Antony Gray on 'Michael Blake: Afrikosmos’ (Divine Art DA 21374)
Première
First performance: 21 August 2021; Le Genesteix Concerts, Azat-le-Riz, France;
Antony Gray piano
Further performance: 22 September 2022; Chisholm Recital Room, Cape Town; Antony Gray piano
(South African première); 21 June 2023; Goldsmiths College London; Antony Gray piano
(UK première)
Programme note
Haiku substitutes pitches for words within the structure of the traditional haiku, five - seven - five. Inspired by Graham Dukas's 'Haiku': "Eventually / they dismantled the rainbow / colour by colour", it reduces the South African national anthem to a musical essence: 17 long sustained notes.
