The Future is in Africa

Browse Works

Instrumentation

Alto sax
1
Cello
1
Double bass
1
Flute
1
Marimba
2
Timpani
1
Viola
1
Violin 1
1
Violin 2
1
4 Percussion players: 2 African Marimbas
Djembe
tambourine
Suspended Cymbal
bongos
Congas and Wood Blocks

Additional Information

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.

Tags

Details

Year

Bloemfontein
South Africa

Minutes
3