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In this recent release from Divine Art, the 75 pieces which make up the six volumes of Michael Blake’s Afrikosmos, Progressive African Piano Pieces, are beautiful and convincingly presented by pianist Antony Gray. As hinted at by the title, the original inspiration for this collection came from Bartok’s Mikrokosmos, and Afrikosmos similarly consists of studies, dances, character pieces, transcriptions and variations, sequenced in order of increasing difficulty and complexity. While Bartok took inspiration from the folk music of Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, Blake has used this series as an opportunity to explore “in as comprehensive a way possible the enormous range of traditional music from much of sub-Saharan Africa”. Currently living in France, Blake was born in South Africa, and Afrikosmos was composed between 2015 and 2020. Some of the pieces are direct transcriptions of South African traditional songs, but the vast majority are original compositions written in a “neo-African” style, infusing the rhythmic patterns, modes and textures found in the indigenous music, as well as seeking to recreate a sense of the original instrumentation. In several of the pieces, homage is paid directly to composers that have been a defining influence on Blake, including J. S. Bach, Satie, Schumann, Grieg, Messiaen and, of course, Bartok.

Many unique and innovative features are explored in these pieces, such as the hexatonic mode, extended piano techniques (strumming directly on the strings, note clusters and whistling, for instance) and the use of graphics scores. Bartók’s influence is apparent throughout the set, but the compositional content and the musical language is entirely different. Although the rhythmic and tonal language may seem unfamiliar at first, the music is instantly accessible and is very picturesque and highly engaging throughout. From the infectious rhythms of If I had wings I could fly, Patterns in a Heptatonic Field and In Goema Style, to the evocative worlds of Reflection and Seventh Must Fal, there is much to be enjoyed and admired here. Most of the pieces last around a few minutes, with the shortest being In the Hexatonic Mode(49 seconds)extended being Night Music (9’43).

Antony Gray is a highly prolific pianist with a rich and varied repertoire and a large discography, and his playing here is consistently committed, refined and engaging. The recorded sound is clear yet resonant, and the informative liner notes highlight details in the music very effectively. Further information about this wonderful music and insightful commentary on each individual piece can be found at www.afrikosmos.michaelblake.co.za.