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The Future is in Africa is the second piece I have written for the West Coast Youth Orchestra. The music is based on a song I wrote for a school choir in Middelburg, Eastern Cape, called Children of South Africa. The original idea was to write for strings and percussion, but I since decided to add a flute and alto saxophone for additional colour. I started this transformation at the end of 2022 and finished it in early 2023.
The percussion section consist of timpani and 4 other players, using two African marimbas, djembe, tambourine, bongos and congas, wood block and suspended cymbal.
The title of the piece comes from a quote I found from the Iowa State University:
Africa has great potential and could become the next economic frontier. It is home to some of the world's current fastest-growing economies; its population is also expected to grow by 184% and increase to 2.1 billion by 2050.
The musical style is a fusion of African rhythms and Western Art music. The 3¾ minute duration has a rhythmic vitality, and celebrates the potential that the quote suggests.
