Self Delectative Songs (1986)
for instrumental ensemble and tape delay
Instrumentation: trumpet in B flat/flugelhorn, cello,, piano, clarinet in B flat/bass clarinet, vibraphone/marimba
African Journal No 8
Commission funded by the Arts Council of Great Britain
For Metanoia's farewell, 26 April 1986
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Playing Score BDE
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Duration: c. 20 minutes
Première
First performance: 26 April 1986; Purcell Room, London; Metanoia (Tim Payne - clarinet/bass clarinet, Jonathan Impett - trumpet/flugelhorn, Helen Verney - cello, Martin Allen - vibraphone/marimba, Michael Blake - piano, Javier Alvarez - sound diffusion
Further performances: 24 January 1999; Tafelhalle Nürnberg, Germany; Klangkonzepte Ensemble (German premiére)
Programme note
Self Delectative Songs draws on material from two cyclic southern African pieces: 1. Andrew Tracey's transcription of Nyanga panpipe music, originally performed by Makina Chirenje's group in Mozambique and recorded by Tracey. I have slowed down the music by several cycles and orchestrated it for the five instruments (with doublings) of Metanoia. The richness of the panpipe ensemble is simulated by tape delay, requiring four tape recorders for this piece. It is also possible (and less risky, though less exciting) to pre-record the ensemble and playback during the performance. 2. The second movement adapts two Zulu bow songs, originally performed by Princess Magogo and recorded by and transcribed by David Rycroft, before the Nyanga panpipe song is reprised.
Andrew Tracey once told me that the designation "self delectative song" was often used by his father Hugh Tracey to describe a range of pieces which had no particular social function. Similarly the title as used here has no particular significance.
for instrumental ensemble and tape delay
Instrumentation: trumpet in B flat/flugelhorn, cello,, piano, clarinet in B flat/bass clarinet, vibraphone/marimba
African Journal No 8
Commission funded by the Arts Council of Great Britain
For Metanoia's farewell, 26 April 1986
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Playing Score BDE
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Duration: c. 20 minutes
Première
First performance: 26 April 1986; Purcell Room, London; Metanoia (Tim Payne - clarinet/bass clarinet, Jonathan Impett - trumpet/flugelhorn, Helen Verney - cello, Martin Allen - vibraphone/marimba, Michael Blake - piano, Javier Alvarez - sound diffusion
Further performances: 24 January 1999; Tafelhalle Nürnberg, Germany; Klangkonzepte Ensemble (German premiére)
Programme note
Self Delectative Songs draws on material from two cyclic southern African pieces: 1. Andrew Tracey's transcription of Nyanga panpipe music, originally performed by Makina Chirenje's group in Mozambique and recorded by Tracey. I have slowed down the music by several cycles and orchestrated it for the five instruments (with doublings) of Metanoia. The richness of the panpipe ensemble is simulated by tape delay, requiring four tape recorders for this piece. It is also possible (and less risky, though less exciting) to pre-record the ensemble and playback during the performance. 2. The second movement adapts two Zulu bow songs, originally performed by Princess Magogo and recorded by and transcribed by David Rycroft, before the Nyanga panpipe song is reprised.
Andrew Tracey once told me that the designation "self delectative song" was often used by his father Hugh Tracey to describe a range of pieces which had no particular social function. Similarly the title as used here has no particular significance.
