Diary of a Dung Beetle (2020)
for solo piano
Afrikosmos Volume 6: No 6
Dedicated to Christine Lucia
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Score BDE 1286 (Volume 6 Complete)
Duration: 3 minutes
Recording
Recorded by Antony Gray on 'Michael Blake: Afrikosmos’ (Divine Art DA 21374)
Première
First performance: 21 August 2021; Le Genesteix Concerts, Azat-le-Riz, France;
Antony Gray piano
Further performance: 22 September 2022; Chisholm Recital Room, Cape Town; Antony Gray piano
(South African première); 21 June 2023; Goldsmiths College London; Antony Gray piano
(UK première)
Programme note
Based on a well-know traditional Xhosa song uGqongqothwane, made famous as The Clock Song by the legendary singer Miriam Makeba. The dung beetle is a familiar figure, making a clicking sound as it makes it slow journey across 'mountains' of animal dung. The pianist is also called upon to whistle. One could be reminded of Bartók's From the Diary of a Fly in the sixth volume of Mikrokosmos.
for solo piano
Afrikosmos Volume 6: No 6
Dedicated to Christine Lucia
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Score BDE 1286 (Volume 6 Complete)
Duration: 3 minutes
Recording
Recorded by Antony Gray on 'Michael Blake: Afrikosmos’ (Divine Art DA 21374)
Première
First performance: 21 August 2021; Le Genesteix Concerts, Azat-le-Riz, France;
Antony Gray piano
Further performance: 22 September 2022; Chisholm Recital Room, Cape Town; Antony Gray piano
(South African première); 21 June 2023; Goldsmiths College London; Antony Gray piano
(UK première)
Programme note
Based on a well-know traditional Xhosa song uGqongqothwane, made famous as The Clock Song by the legendary singer Miriam Makeba. The dung beetle is a familiar figure, making a clicking sound as it makes it slow journey across 'mountains' of animal dung. The pianist is also called upon to whistle. One could be reminded of Bartók's From the Diary of a Fly in the sixth volume of Mikrokosmos.
