iKostina (2003)
for solo piano
African Journal No 27
Commissioned by Associated Board for ‘Spectrum 4’
Dedicated to Thalia Myeres
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Published in:
Duration: 1 minute
Recordings
Recorded by Thalia Myers on ‘Spectrum 4’ (USK1227CDD)
Recorded by Antony Gray on 'Afrikosmos' (Divine Art DDA 21374)
Recorded by Michael Blake on 'The Silence of Patterns' (MBED CD 03)
Première
First performance: Sunday 19 February 2006; Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom; Thalia Myers piano.
Further performances: 15 October 2016; Hear and Now, BBC Radio 3; Michael Finnissy (First broadcast) 12 November 2016; CoMA Maastricht Weekend Course; Michael Finnissy (Dutch premiere) 9 March 2018; Woordfees, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Michael Blake (South African premiere) 3 September 2019; Beethoven Room, Rhodes University, South Africa; Michael Blake 21 August 2021; Le Genesteix Concerts, Azat-le-Ris, France; Antony Gray (French premiere)
Programme note
“iKostina” was a request from Thalia Myers for Spectrum 4, commissioned by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. The Spectrum series is devoted to miniatures which are technically approachable while remaining musically engaging. In the fourth book Thalia Myers focused on music for beginners, and distilling the essence of my musical language in this way was an enormous challenge. “iKostina” (’concertina’ in Xhosa, an indigenous South African language) is one of the many instruments imported and adapted for local use, often played by rural musicians walking along the roadside, or in bands together with guitars and other instruments. The great uhadi bow player Nofinishi Dywili undoubtedly inspired this music. It was first published by the Associated Board in 2005.
for solo piano
African Journal No 27
Commissioned by Associated Board for ‘Spectrum 4’
Dedicated to Thalia Myeres
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Published in:
- Afrikosmos Volume 3 – www.afrikosmos.michaelblake.co.za
- Spectrum 4 (2005) – Associated Board 9781860963766
- Collected Shorter Piano Pieces Vol 1 (2008) – Bardic Edition BDE 917
Duration: 1 minute
Recordings
Recorded by Thalia Myers on ‘Spectrum 4’ (USK1227CDD)
Recorded by Antony Gray on 'Afrikosmos' (Divine Art DDA 21374)
Recorded by Michael Blake on 'The Silence of Patterns' (MBED CD 03)
Première
First performance: Sunday 19 February 2006; Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom; Thalia Myers piano.
Further performances: 15 October 2016; Hear and Now, BBC Radio 3; Michael Finnissy (First broadcast) 12 November 2016; CoMA Maastricht Weekend Course; Michael Finnissy (Dutch premiere) 9 March 2018; Woordfees, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Michael Blake (South African premiere) 3 September 2019; Beethoven Room, Rhodes University, South Africa; Michael Blake 21 August 2021; Le Genesteix Concerts, Azat-le-Ris, France; Antony Gray (French premiere)
Programme note
“iKostina” was a request from Thalia Myers for Spectrum 4, commissioned by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. The Spectrum series is devoted to miniatures which are technically approachable while remaining musically engaging. In the fourth book Thalia Myers focused on music for beginners, and distilling the essence of my musical language in this way was an enormous challenge. “iKostina” (’concertina’ in Xhosa, an indigenous South African language) is one of the many instruments imported and adapted for local use, often played by rural musicians walking along the roadside, or in bands together with guitars and other instruments. The great uhadi bow player Nofinishi Dywili undoubtedly inspired this music. It was first published by the Associated Board in 2005.
