
There has been lots of progress over the last two days on Africa Ascendant - a commission from The Liberty High School band in Renton, Washington directed by the esteemed and multi-talented Mr. Phil Donley (sorry I missed that beer at Midwest Mr. Donley!).
I should have a sketch score completed to send to the director very soon along with a recording of the piece so far. The piece is shaping up nicely and I like it - which is not always the case!
It's interesting to me and listenable. It might take some work to nail it, but I think it's very do-able. The central challenge is going to be the pygmy "polyphonic mesh" at the beginning and ending of the work that go over many bars of alternating 4/4 and 5/4 with no discernable pulse. The Aka pygmies have heard and played these rhythms since childhood, have no written music tradition, and their music involves much improv. and variation.






















