Michael Blake
UMNGQOKOLO for solo alto flute
Bardic Edition BDE1230
I think the flute came into its own in the 20th century, when it embarked on a new life as a solo instrument. While there had been some solo pieces in the 18th century, Debussy’s Syrinx, Varese’s Density 21.5 and Berio’s Sequenza 1 redefined the instrument’s unique palette of colours and opened up new soundworlds for modern composers. Notable among these is Justinian Tamusuza (b. 1951, Uganda) whose Okwanjula Kw’ Endere - the first part of An African Festivity for Flute - is probably the most significant solo flute piece by an African composer.
It was this piece that inspired me to write a solo work for alto flute, but whereas Tamusuza found his customary inspiration in the Kiganda traditional music of Uganda, I found mine in the bow music of the Xhosa in the Eastern Cape. Overtones, which are a feature of this music, became the essence of my Umngqokolo. ‘Umngqokolo’ is a style of gruff overtone singing researched and documented by Dave Dargie in Xhosa Music, published 1988, the most important source of information about ‘umngqokolo’. Umngqokolo was written for Marietjie Pauw, who gave the first performance on 27 January 2019 at Hoofstraat Conceptual, Riebeek Kasteel (in South Africa’s Western Cape Province). On that occasion the programme included Justinian Tamusuza’s solo flute piece. Michael Blake
Duration 10½ minutes
It was this piece that inspired me to write a solo work for alto flute, but whereas Tamusuza found his customary inspiration in the Kiganda traditional music of Uganda, I found mine in the bow music of the Xhosa in the Eastern Cape. Overtones, which are a feature of this music, became the essence of my Umngqokolo. ‘Umngqokolo’ is a style of gruff overtone singing researched and documented by Dave Dargie in Xhosa Music, published 1988, the most important source of information about ‘umngqokolo’. Umngqokolo was written for Marietjie Pauw, who gave the first performance on 27 January 2019 at Hoofstraat Conceptual, Riebeek Kasteel (in South Africa’s Western Cape Province). On that occasion the programme included Justinian Tamusuza’s solo flute piece. Michael Blake
Duration 10½ minutes
