Works

Dramatic works
Orchestral works
Chamber music
Piano music
Organ and other keyboard works
Choral music
Solo vocal works
Electronic
Miscellaneous

Legend
*	Parts on hire
+	Unpublished; available from the composer
++	Lost
Fp	First performance

[ top ]

Dramatic works

Stage works

Marimba (1981-1983) +

African Journal No 6

Music theatre piece in 1 scene with libretto by Michael Blake adapted from Credo Mutwa's "Indaba, My Children"

for soprano, actor and marimba

Pythagoras Redoubled (1988)

Music (Thirteen Inventions) for the dance by Mark Lintern Harris

for two pianos

Fp: 1988; London, England; Joseph Misquita (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Strange Land (1988) +

Arrangements of "Christe eleison", "Laudamus te" and "Domine deus" from J S Bach "Mass in B minor" for the dance by Scott Clark

for countertenor, clarinet/bass clarinet, harmonium/accordeon, guitar and violin

Fp: 4 March 1988; The Place, London, England; Scott Clark and Dancers, Michael Blake and Musicians

For the Off (1989)

Music (Honey Gathering Song) for the dance by Gill Clarke

for flute and piano

Fp: 15 March 1989; London, England; Tessa Swade (flute), Michael Blake (piano)

Travellers V (2003)

First Movement of "String Quartet No 1" with choreography by Gary Gordon

Fp: 27 June 2003; National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa; First Physical Theatre Company, Sontonga Quartet

Searching for Salome (2009-in progress)

Chamber opera in 7 scenes with libretto by Christine Lucia and Michael Blake based on the novel "Sewe Dae by die Silbersteins" by Etienne Leroux

for soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, 2 countertenors, tenor, 2 baritones, bass, dancer, 2 clarinets, 2 percussionists, 2 pianos, string quartet, tape, video

[ top ]

Multimedia works

* Erotikon (2000)

Live score for the 1929 silent film by Gustav Machaty

for flute, bass clarinet, viola and piano

Commissioned by the National Arts Festival

Fp: 8 July 2000; National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa; Michael Blake Ensemble

Duration: 87'00"

* At Land (2003)

Live score for the 1944 silent film by Maya Deren

for flugelhorn, cello, fretless electric bass, piano, tape and video

Commissioned by National Arts Festival for "Mirroring Maya Deren" project

Fp: 2 July 2003; New Music Indaba 2003, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa; Marcus Wyatt (flugelhorn), Carlo Mombelli (electric bass), Michael Blake (piano), Helen Hacksley (cello)

Duration: 15'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Syntactic Liminality #7 for Synapse Reactor, Clarinet and Piano (2004) +

Music video with Aryan Kaganof

Ringtones (2006)

Digital music theatre in collaboration with Aryan Kaganof

for solo violin, cellphone and video camera

Written for and dedicated to Yasutaki Hemmi

Fp: 4 July 2006; New Music Indaba 2006, Grahamstown, South Africa; Yasutaki Hemmi (violin), Michael Blake (cellphone caller), Aryan Kaganof (video camera), Corinne Cooper (sound engineer)

Score BD in preparation

Duration: c. 6'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Reviews ]

Reverie (2007) +

Multimedia piece with Aryan Kaganof

Fp: 10 October 2007; New Music Indaba 2007, Unisa, Pretoria, South Africa

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Film scores

Shaping Clay (1976) +

Music for documentary film directed by Michael Sandler

for flute, piano, percussion, viola and cello

Weefkuns in Wording (1976) +

Music for documentary film (director unknown)

for harpsichord

First showing: 1976, SABC

The Furiosus (1998)

Music for documentary film directed by Liza Key

for string quartet

First showing: 1999, SABC

Bethlehem Reborn (2002) +

Music for documentary film directed by Msizi Kuhlane

for clarinet/bass clarinet, piano/celeste and string quartet

The Man Who Knows Too Much (2002)

Music for documentary film directed by Liza Key

for soprano, cello and piano

First showing: 2003, SABC

SMS Sugar Man (2006) +

Music for feature film music directed by Aryan Kaganof

for large chamber ensemble (0.0.1.0-2.2.2.1-piano/harp/theatre organ-1.1.1.1.1)

First showing: 2008, London

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Orchestral works

JSB – Chaconne (1974; rev. 1985-1986) +

for orchestra: 2.2.ca.2.2-4.2.2.1-perc(1)-strings

Fp: 1 March 1987; Woking, Surrey, England; Woking Symphony Orchestra, Roy Stratford (conductor)

Duration: 5'00"

Ground Weave (1976) +

African Notebook No 3b

for orchestra

Duration: 3'00"

* Kalimba (1986)

African Journal No 8b

for orchestra

Duration: 7'30"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

* Kwela (1992)

African Journal No 15a

for chamber orchestra: 2.2.2.2-2.2.0.0-perc(1)-strings

Fp: 17 October 1992; St Augustine's Church, Brighton, England; Brighton Chamber Orchestra, Guy Richardson (conductor)

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 10'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

* Kwela (1992; transcr. 1998)

African Journal No 15c

for string orchestra (violins 1 & 2, violas, cellos 1 & 2, double bass(es))

Fp: 21 December 2002; Mozartsaal, Stuttgart, Germany; Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Bernd Ruf (conductor)

Score BD0857

Duration: 10'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt ]

Out of the Darkness (1994)

African Journal No 18

for solo piano and small orchestra

Fp: 16 July 1994; St Luke's, Brighton, England; Sally Rose (piano), Brighton Chamber Orchestra, Guy Richardson (conductor)

Withdrawn

* Kwela (1996)

African Journal No 15b

for elastic scoring

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 10'00"

* Buskaid Remix (1998)

African Journal No 17b

for two solo violins and string orchestra

Requested by Rosemary Nalden

Fp: 13 July 1998; SABC, Cape Town, South Africa; Buskaid Soweto String Project, Rosemary Nalden (conductor)

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 3'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

* Solstice: Seven Poems of Don Maclennan (2004)

1. The Well / 2. Blue / 3. Self-Knowledge / 4. Poetry / 5. Ownership / 6. Reduction / 7. Envoi

for tenor, horn and strings

Commissioned by SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts

Dedicated to Don Maclennan and Musa Nkuna

Score BD in preparation

Duration: c. 19'00"

* Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Rain Dancing) (2005-2006)

2+picc.2.2+Eflat.bcl.2-4.2.3.1-hp-perc(2)-str(min8.8.6.6.4)

Dedicated to Jill Richards

Fp: 17 October 2007; Linder Auditotium, Johannesburg, South Africa; Jill Richards (piano), Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicholas Cleobury (conductor)

Study Score BD in preparation

Two-Piano Score BD in preparation

Duration: 22'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpts • Reviews ]

Sugar Man Suite (2006)

for orchestra

Duration: c. 15'00"

Gautango (2007)

for orchestra

Duration: 3'15"

Postcolonial Song (2008)

for orchestra

Duration: 5'15"

Symphony (2009-in progress)

for orchestra

[ top ]

Chamber music

Two Centenaries: Canon for Arnold Schoenberg & Quodlibet for Charles Ives (1974) +

for flute, clarinet, violin and cello

Fp: 10 June 1975; South African Association of Arts, Carlton Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Orion Ensemble, Michael Blake (conductor)

Duration: 4'00"

Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor BWV867 (from The 48, Book 1) (1975) +

African Notebook No 1

Arrangement of J S Bach for chamber ensemble (flute/alto flute/piccolo, clarinet, marimba/glockenspiel, harpsichord/celeste, viola, cello)

Fp: 17 July 1977; Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Moonchild, Michael Blake (conductor)

Songs (without words) (1975) +

African Notebook No 2

for cello and piano

Fp: 25 September 1977; Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Kálmán Richter (cello), Michael Blake (piano)

Three Pieces for Flute and Keyboard (1975) +

for alto flute/flute/piccolo and harpsichord/piano/celeste (synthesizer may be substituted for harpsichord and celeste)

Written for Jenni Scheffer

Warhorses (1975) +

for ten-string guitar and tape

Written for Simon Wynberg

Flute, Clarinet, Cello and Piano (1976) +

African Notebook No 3

Fp: August 1976; Dartington Summer School, England; Fires of London

Stravinsky Collage, after Larry Scully (1976) +

in collaboration with Kálmán Richter and June Schneider

for cello and piano

Fp: 1976; Wartenweiler Library, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa; Kálmán Richter (cello), Michael Blake (piano)

Fantasia on One Note (1977) +

African Notebook No 5

Arrangement of Purcell for flute, clarinet, percussion(1 player), piano, guitar, viola, cello

Fp: 25 September 1977; Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Moonchild, Michael Blake (conductor)

Night Music (1977) +

African Notebook No 4

Originally titled "A Speck of White Moon"

for chamber ensemble (flute/alto flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, percussion (1 player), piano/celeste, violin/viola, cello)

Dedicated to June Schneider

Fp: 24 July 1977; Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Moonchild, Michael Blake (conductor)

[ Further info: Review ]

Hymn and Variations (1978) +

African Journal No 1

for string quartet

Hocket (1979) +

African Journal No 2

Arrangement of Machaut "Hoquetus David"

for large chamber ensemble (2 cl, 2 tpt, 2 mba, 2 pf, 2 va, 2 vc)

Spring in New X (1979) +

African Journal No 3

for large chamber ensemble (flute/piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet, percussion, piano, guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, cello)

Written for the Goldsmiths Contemporary Music Ensemble

Fp: 25 March 1980; Goldsmiths College, London, England; Goldsmiths Contemporary Music Ensemble, Michael Blake (conductor)

Chorales (1979-1980) +

for alto flute, cor anglais, bells, harmonium, viola and cello

Fp: 7 December 1980; Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa; Moonchild, Michael Blake (conductor)

Flutter (1980) +

for flute and tape delay or 2-track tape

Sub-Saharan Dances (1980-1981) +

African Journal No 4

for large chamber ensemble (2 flutes, 2 clarinets, marimba, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello)

Fp: 23 March 1981; Studio M1A, SABC, Johannesburg, South Africa; Moonchild, Michael Blake (conductor)

Taireva (We were talking) (1978-1983) +

African Journal No 5

for viola (or flugelhorn), cello, prepared piano (or harpsichord) and 4-track tape

Fp: 29 November 1984; Purcell Room, London, England; Metanoia: Jonathan Impett (flugelhorn), Helen Verney (cello), Michael Blake (prepared piano), John Whiting (sound projection)

Spirit (1985)

for solo flute

Fp: May 1985; London, England; Tessa Swade (flute)

Score BD0206

Duration: 3'00"

* Self Delectative Songs (1986)

African Journal No 6a

for clarinet/bass clarinet, trumpet/flugelhorn, marimba/vibraphone, piano, amplified cello

Fp: 26 April 1986; Purcell Room, London, England; Metanoia

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 12'00"

[ Further info: Reviews ]

* Self Delectative Songs (1986)

African Journal No 6b

for string quartet and piano

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 12'00"

Let us run out of the rain (1986; arr. 1995)

African Journal No 7c

for vibraphone and marimba (4 players)

Commissioned by Chris Brannick for Ensemble Bash

Dedicated to Ensemble Bash

Fp: 1 March 1996; The King's School, Canterbury, England; Ensemble Bash

Playing score BD 0318 (2 copies included)

Recorded by Ensemble Bash on "Damba Moon" (SoundCircus SC006)

Duration: 7'30"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt • Reviews ]

* Cum martelli incrudena (after 13th century anon) (1987)

Arrangement of 13th century anonymous for elastic scoring (2 clarinets or trumpets in Bb, guitar or harpsichord or piano, vibraphone or marimba or glockenspiel, violin or viola, cello)

Fp: 3 May 1989; Purcell Room, London, England; London New Music

Playing Score BD in preparation

Duration: 2'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

* Grey Clouds (in memoriam Morton Feldman) (1987)

Arrangement of Liszt "Nuages Gris" for 2 bass clarinets, guitar, marimba, viola, cello,

Fp: 29 February 1988; Purcell Room, London, England; London New Music

Score BD in preparation

Duration: c. 2'30"

* The Seasons at Home (1987-1988)

African Journal No 8

1. Winter / 2. Spring / 3. Summer / 4. Autumn

for guitar and chamber ensemble (2 clarinets/bass clarinets, percussion: 2 rattles/2 woodblocks/4 small drums (1 player), violin, cello)

Dedicated to Rochie and Max Swade

Fp: 29 February 1988; Purcell Room, London, England; Simon Wynberg (guitar), London New Music

First broadcast: 7 March 1988; Capitol Radio, London

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 16'00"

[ Further info: Reviews ]

Honey Gathering Song (1989; rev. 1999)

African Journal No 9a

for flute and piano or harpsichord or fortepiano

Dedicated to Bridget Crowley

Fp: 28 April 2000; Beethoven Room, Grahamstown, South Africa; Anne La Berge (flute), Michael Blake (piano)

First broadcast: 14 May 2003; BBC Radio 3; Ixion

Score and instrumental part BD 0554

Duration: c. 6'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt ]

Quartet for Flute and String Trio (1989; rev. 1999)

African Journal No 9b

Transcription of "Honey Gathering Song"

Fp: March 2002; Europe-Asia Festival, Kazan, Tatarstan

Score BD 0756; Parts BD 0756/1

Duration: c. 6'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

Hindewhu (Whistle Duet) (1989-1990)

African Journal No 10

for 2 classical clarinets in Bb (or 2 soprano saxophones)

Dedicated to Lesley Schatzberger and Sharon Lyons

Fp: 20 April 1990; Purcell Room, London, England; Lesley Schatzberger (classical clarinet), Sharon Lyons (classical clarinet)

Score BD 0322 in preparation

Duration: 8'30"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

Quintet for Basset Clarinet (or Clarinet in A) and String Quartet (1990)

African Journal No 11

for classical (or modern) instruments

Commissioned by Yorkshire Arts

Dedicated to Lesley Schatzberger and the Fitzwilliam String Quartet

Fp: 7 March 1991; Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York; Lesley Schatzberger (basset clarinet), Fitzwilliam String Quartet

Score BD 0605; Parts BD 0605/1

Duration: 12'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

Let us run out of the rain (1991)

African Journal No 7b

for string quartet

Score BD 0796; Parts BD 0797/1

Duration: 7'30"

Leaf Carrying Song (1991; rev. 2002)

African Journal No 12a

for oboe d'amore (or oboe or flute) and 10-string guitar

Commissioned by the Arts Council of Great Britain

Dedicated to Simon Wynberg

Fp: 2 November 2008; ZK Matthews Hall, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Kobus Malan (oboe), Michal George (guitar)

Playing score BD 0798 in preparation

Duration: 8'30"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Leaf Carrying Song (1991; rev. 2002; transcr. 2009)

African Journal No 12b

for wind instrument in C (birbyne or oboe or flute) and piano

Score and instrumental part BD in preparation

Duration: 8'30"

Mysteries (in memoriam John Cage) (1993)

African Journal No 14

for percussion quartet

Playing score BD 0795 in preparation

Duration: 8'00"

Three Venda Children's Songs (1996)

African Journal No 16

1. Counting Song / 2. My Bullroarer / 3. Singing Game

for solo guitar

Commissioned by Trinity College London for the Examinations in Guitar Grades 1, 2 and 3

In memory of John Blacking

Published individually by Trinity College London and collectively by Bardic Edition Score BD 0799

Duration: 1. 40" / 2. 50" / 3. 1'05"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Birthday Fanfare (1998)

for four tubas or tuba and tape

Written for the 75th anniversary of Rhodes University Music Department, Grahamstown

Fp: October 1999; Beethoven Room, Grahamstown, South Africa; Bruce Stevens (tuba)

Score BD 0813 in preparation

Duration: c. 2'30"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Carpet of Memory (1994-1998)

African Journal No 15

Recomposed for piano trio (completed 2006)

for voice-flute (or recorder), bass viol and harpsichord

Commissioned by the Arts Council of England for Trio Basiliensis

Dedicated to Marianne Mezger and Paul Simmonds

Score BD 0797; Parts BD 0797/1

Duration: 12'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

KwaDtit/Quite Nice (2000)

for recorder quartet (descant, treble, tenor, bass)

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: 3'45"

Quartet for Piano and Strings (drawn from the music for the silent film Erotikon) (2000)

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Reverie /Isimncgano (2000)

African Journal No 23b

for double saxophone quartet or saxophone quartet and tape (quartet 1/live quartet: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone; quartet 2/tape: sopranino, alto, tenor, bass)

Requested by and dedicated to Peter van Bergen and Ensemble Loos

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: c. 12'30"

Untitled (2000)

for clarinet in A and piano

Commissioned by SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts

Dedicated to Robert Pickup and Jill Richards

Fp: 12 July 2002; Basílica Menor San Francisco de Asís, Havana, Cuba; Ensemble Opera Nova Zürich: Robert Pickup (clarinet), Jean-Jacques Dünki (piano)

Score and instrumental part BD 0811

Duration: 19'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Strings and Electric Guitar (2000; rev. 2009)

for baroque violin, baroque viola, viola da gamba, baroque cello, violone, harpsichord and electric guitar

Requested by Evenings of New Music for the 'Bach 250 Years After' project

Fp: 9 June 2000; Evenings of New Music, Bratislava Castle, Bratislava, Slovakia; Musica aeterna, Karol Kompas (electric guitar), Marián Lejava (conductor)

Score: BD 0806; Parts: BD 0806/1 in preparation

Duration: c. 8'00"

String Quartet No 1 (in Memory of William Burton) (2001)

Requested by and dedicated to the Fitzwilliam String Quartet

Fp: 29 June 2001; National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa; Fitzwilliam String Quartet

Score: BD0812; Parts: BD0812/1

Duration: 24'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpts • Reviews ]

38a Hill Street Blues (2002)

for marimba and vibraphone (2 players)

Fp: 6 March 2003; Oxford, England; Adam Bushell (vibraphone), Tom Norell (marimba)

Playing Score (2 copies) BD0853

Duration: c. 4'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Ways of the Dance (2002-2003)

for piano and marimba/vibraphone

Requested by and dedicated to Ancuza Aprodu and Thierry Miroglio

Fp: 24 May 2003; Tage der Neuen Musik, Bamberg, Germany; Ancuza Aprodu (piano), Thierry Miroglio (marimba/vibraphone)

Playing Score (2 copies) BD in preparation

Duration: c. 15'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

Do you prefer red or white? (2004)

for violin and piano

Requested by and dedicated to Darragh Morgan and Mary Dullea

Fp: 26 June 2004; Howard College Theatre, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Darragh Morgan (violin), Mary Dullea (piano)

Score and instrumental part BD in preparation

Duration: c. 8'45"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Quintet for Piano and Strings (Homage to Schumann) (2006)

Dedicated to Christine Lucia

Fp: 30 April 2006; Cambridge, England; Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Michael Blake (piano)

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: 21'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Song of the Bullfrogs (2005-2006)

for saxophone quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone) and tape

Commissioned by SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts

Dedicated to the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet

Fp: 2 July 2006; New Music Indaba 2006, Grahamstown, South Africa; Stockholm Saxophone Quartet

Score BD; Parts and CD BD in preparation

Duration: c. 12'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

String Quartet No 2 (2006)

Composed during a residency at Visby International Composers Centre, Gotland

Dedicated to Grant Olwage

Fp: 2 July 2008; Summartónar 2008, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; Marselis Quartet (Copenhagen)

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: 21'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

D.S.I.M.L. (2007)

for violin, piano and optional video

SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts

Dedicated to Darragh Morgan, Mary Dullea and Daithi Morgan

Score and instrumental part: BD in preparation

Duration: c. 20'00"

* Rural Arias (2007)

for singing saw or soprano and 11 players

Commissioned by Ensemble Reconsil

Dedicated to Ensemble Reconsil on their fifth anniversary

Fp: 2 October 2007; Arnold Schoenberg Center, Vienna, Austria; Maria Frodl (singing saw), Ensemble Reconsil, Roland Freisitzer (conductor)

Score BD in preparation

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpts • Review ]

Shoowa Panel (2007)

for vibraphone and marimba

Commissioned by Frank Mallows

Dedicated to Frank Mallows and Magda de Vries

Fp: 25 September 2007; Baxter Concert Hall, Cape Town, South Africa; Frank Mallows (vibraphone), Magda de Vries (marimba)

Playing Score BD in preparation

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpts • Review ]

Connectivity (2008)

for cello and piano

Dedicated to Mark Troop

Fp: 6 September 2008; Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa; Chamber Music Company (London)

Score and instrumental part BD in preparation

Duration: 1'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Gautango (2008)

Version for steel pans (tenor, double tenor, double second, cellos, bass) and percussion

Dedicated to Andrew Tracey

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: 3'15"

Kora (2008)

African Journal No 20c

for harp

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 5'30"

Postcolonial Song (2008)

for elastic scoring: 4 parts, piano, percussion

Commissioned by CoMA (Contemporary Music-Making for Amateurs)

Dedicated to Barry Peter Ould

Fp: 21 June 2009; Corsham Festival, Corsham, England; CoMA London, Gregory Rose (conductor)

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: 5'15"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Postcolonial Song (2008)

for string quartet and piano

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: 5'15"

Quintet for Winds (2008)

African Journal No 20b

Transcription of "French Suite" for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon

Score BD; Parts BD in preparation

Duration: 11'00"

Sylvia (2008) +

Arrangement of Michael Moerane for oboe and piano

Dedicated to Eunice Basson

Fp: 2 November 2008; ZK Matthews Hall, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Kobus Malan (oboe), Michael Blake (piano)

Duration: 3'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

The Philosophy of Composition (in Memory of Don Maclennan) (2009)

for cello and piano

Dedicated to Berthine van Schoor

Fp: 31 May 2009; Unisa Conference Hall, Sunnyside, Pretoria, South Africa; Berthine van Schoor (cello), Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)

Score and instrumental part BD in preparation

Duration: 9'15"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt • Review ]

String Quartet No 3 (“Nofinishi”) (2009)

Dedicated to Kevin Volans

Fp: 19 July 2009; Nederburg Concert Series, Manor House, Paarl, South Africa; Nightingale String Quartet (Denmark)

Duration: 5'30"

[ Further info: Reviews ]

All Eleven (2010)

for tenor and string quartet

Fp of excerpts: 23 February 2010; Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos, Lisbon, Portugal; Musa Nkuna (tenor), Musicians of the Teatro Nacional de Sao Carlos

[ top ]

Piano music

Piano Piece 1 (1970) +

Two Pianos 1 (1971) +

Originally titled "Explorations"

Fp: 1971; Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa; Shirley Hoffmann (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Two Pianos 2 (1972) ++

Originally titled "Little Fantasy"

Fp: 26 August 1971; Wits Great Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa; Shirley Hoffmann (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Two Studies for Prepared Piano:
1. Gang o' notes (1983)

Fp: 7 July 1983; First SABC Contemporary Music Festival, SABC, Johannesburg, South Africa; Shirley Hoffmann (prepared piano)

Facsimile Score BD 0548

Recording: SABC, Johannesburg

Duration: 4'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Two Studies for Prepared Piano:
2. Handful of keys (1984) +

Praeludium (1986)

Completion of Nicholas Carleton's "Praeludium" for piano or harpsichord duet

Fp: 23 June 1986; British Music Information Centre, London, England; Roy Stratford (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Duration: 1'00"

Let us run out of the rain (1986; rev. 1993)

African Journal No 8a

for two to play at one piano or harpsichord

Fp of first version: 23 June 1986; British Music Information Centre, London, England; Roy Stratford (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Fp of second version: 17 June 1993; Evenings of New Music, Bratislava, Slovakia; Sally Rose (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Score BD 0549

Recording: Slovak Radio, Bratislava

Duration: 7'30"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt • Video ]

Thirteen Inventions (1988)

for two pianos

Fp as music for the dance Pythagoras Redoubled by Mark Lintern Harris: June 1988; London, England; Joseph Misquita (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Score BD 0550 (in preparation)

Duration: 6'00"

Rissolty-Rossolty (1992) +

Arrangement of Ruth Crawford Seeger for two pianos

Originally intended for performance in 'The Complete Ruth Crawford' series, February-March 1992, in the ICA London

Duration: 3'00"

French Suite (1994)

African Journal No 20a

for solo piano

Fp: 26 November 1994; St Luke's Concerts, Brighton, England; Sally Rose (piano)

Bardic Edition BD 0776

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 9'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt • Reviews ]

Three Toys No 1 (1995)

Originally titled "A Toy"

for solo piano

Requested by Daniel Matej for the 'morceaux en forme de poire' project

Fp: 11 June 1995; Evenings of New Music, Moyzes Hall, Bratislava, Slovakia; John Tilbury (piano)

Published in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - Bardic Edition BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 3'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Rule, Britannia! (1996) +

Arrangement of Thomas Arne for 2 pianos, 8 hands

Fp: 1996; King's House School, London, England; "Forty Fingers" Piano Quartet

Reverie (1995-1996; rev. 1999)

African Journal No 23a

for two pianos

Fp: 31 March 1996; Africa 95, ICA, London, England; Sally Rose (piano), Antony Gray (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition BD 0691 (two copies)

DVD: "Reverie", directed by Aryan Kaganof, played by Jill Richards (piano 1 and 2)

Duration: c. 12'30"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Three Toys Nos 2 and 3 (1997)

Originally titled "More Toys"

for solo piano

Fp: 29 September 2004; Howard College Theatre, Durban, South Africa; Mary Dullea (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 3'00" each

[ Further info: Programme note ]

BWV Fragments (1999)

for solo piano

Fp: 16 May 2002; Beethoven Room, Grahamstown, South Africa; Jill Richards (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 1'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Nightsongs (1997-1999)

for solo piano

Fp: 5 August 1999; Beethoven Room, Grahamstown, South Africa; Michael Blake (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 4'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

38a Hill Street Blues (2000)

for solo piano

Requested by Marcel Worms for his 'New Blues for Piano' project

Fp: 25 March 2000; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Marcel Worms (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 3'45"

[ Further info: Review ]

Remembering Stravinsky…Morges, Autumn 2001 (2001)

for solo piano

Dedicated to Paulette Robert

Fp: 16 May 2002; Beethoven Room, Grahamstown, South Africa; Jill Richards (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 4'15"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Ruri (2001) +

Concert transcription of Michael Moerane for solo piano

Fp: 10 September 2001; Festival Encuentros, Conservatorio Nacional de Musica, Buenos Aires; Michael Blake (piano)

Duration: 3'30"

Umantindane (2001) +

Concert transcription of Reuben Caluza for solo piano

Fp: 10 September 2001; Festival Encuentros, Conservatorio Nacional de Musica, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Michael Blake (piano)

Duration: 3'00"

Ways to put in the salt (2002)

for solo piano

Requested by and dedicated to John Tilbury

Fp: 30 June 2002; New Music Indaba 2002, Grahamstown, South Africa; John Tilbury (piano)

Bardic Edition 0950

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 13'30"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt • Review ]

Oh Clare (2003)

for solo piano

Requested by Tony Gray for his Bach project on ABC Records (forthcoming 2009)

Fp: 17 July 2003; Chiswick Music Society, London, England; Antony Gray (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 3'30"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

iKostina (2003)

for solo piano

Commissioned by Associated Board for 'Spectrum 4'

Fp: 19 February 2006; Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, Wales; Thalia Myers (piano)

Published by Associated Board in "Spectrum 4" and by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Thalia Myers on "Spectrum 4" (USK1227CDD)

Duration: 1'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Their souls go waltzing on (2004)

for solo piano

Requested by Daniel Matej for the 'Tone Roads' project

Fp: 26 November 2004; Evenings of New Music, Bratislava, Slovakia; Daan Vandewalle (piano)

Published by Bardic Edition in "Complete Shorter Pieces for Solo Piano" - BD 0954

Recorded by Jill Richards on "Michael Blake: Complete Works for Solo Piano 1994-2004" (MBED001)

Duration: 2'15"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

PNFT (2006)

for solo piano

Requested by Daan Vandewalle

Fp: 7 July 2006; New Music Indaba 2006, Grahamstown, South Africa; Daan Vandewalle (piano)

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 4'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Gautango (2007)

Dedicated to Aryan Kaganof and Nicola Deane

for solo piano and gun ad lib

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 3'15"

Sonata for Two Pianos (Homage to Schumann) (2007)

Arrangement of "Quintet for Piano and Strings" (2006)

Fp: 25 September 2007; Baxter Concert Hall, Cape Town, South Africa; Jill Richards (piano), Michael Blake (piano)

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 21'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpts ]

Piano Sonata ('Choral') (2008)

1. Agitated / 2. Strepitoso / 3. Flowing

for solo piano

Commissioned by SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts

Dedicated to Daan Vandewalle

Fp: 20 July 2008; Gentse Feesten, Ghent, Belgium; Daan Vandewalle (piano)

Score BD in preparation

Duration: 25'00"

A Fractured Landscape (in memoriam Edward Said) (2009)

for solo piano

Fp: 17 August 2009; The Firm, Adelaide, Australia; Antony Gray (piano)

Duration: c. 7'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

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Organ and other keyboard works

Ground Weave (1976) +

African Notebook No 3a

for harpsichord

Hommage à MDCLXXXV (1985; rev. 1994)

for harpsichord (in meantone tuning ad lib) or clavichord

Requested by and dedicated to Paul Simmonds

Fp: 11 May 1994; Brighton Festival, Chapel Royal, Brighton, England; Paul Simmonds (harpsichord)

Score BD 0551

Duration: 7'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

Nightsongs (1997)

for theatre organ

Score BD in preparation

San Polyphony (1998; rev. 1999)

African Journal No 24

Commissioned by the National Arts Council of South Africa

Dedicated to Gerrit Jordaan

Fp: 27 September 1998; Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, South Africa; Gerrit Jordaan (organ)

Score BD 0802 in preparation

Duration: 20'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

BWV Fragments (1999)

Score BD in preparation

for keyboard (organ or harpsichord)

Golf, Oil, Power and Cheeseburgers (2004) +

Score BD in preparation

for organ

Gary and Elbé's Love Song (2007)

for organ

Dedicated to Gary and Elbé Roberts on their wedding day

Fp: 24 November 2007; Chapel of St John's College, Johannesburg, South Africa; Cameron Upchurch (organ)

Score BD in preparation

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Choral music

These Carols (1985) +

for SATB choir a cappella

Text by Walt Whitman

Duration: 30"

Beamish Grace (1987)

for SAB a cappella

Latin text

Fp: 24 July 1988; Beamish Hall, Durham, England; Choir of the University of Durham Weekend Course for Singers, Murray Brown (conductor)

Score BD 0800 in preparation

Duration: 2'00"

Five Traditional Animal Poems of the Khoikhoi (1992)

African Journal No 14

for SATB a cappella

Traditional text translated by W H I Bleek

Fp: 11 July 1992; St Augustine's Church, Brighton, England; Brighton Chamber Choir, Guy Richardson (conductor)

Score BD 0552 in preparation

Duration: 5'00"

[ Further info: Programme note ]

Carol of the Three Outas (1993)

African Journal No 17a

for SSA a cappella

Text by D J Opperman, translated by Anthony Delius

Fp: 11 December 1993; St Luke's, Brighton, England; Brighton Youth Choir

Score BD 0553

Duration: 1'30"

The Ballad of Poui (1994)

African Journal No 19

Cantata for soloists, children's chorus SSA, string quartet or piano and percussion

Text by Bridget Crowley

Commissioned by Brighton International Festival

Fp of excerpts: 22 May 1994; Brighton Festival, Brighton, England; Brighton Youth Choir

Score BD 0801 in preparation

Duration: 35'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Review ]

Karaoke Minus One (1994)

Text score for any number and type of voices

Fp: August 1994; Music Theatre Summer School, Chichester, England

Jesus, Our Mighty Lord (2004)

Anthem for SATB choir a cappella

Text by Clement of Alexandria (English paraphrase by F Bland Tucker)

Commissioned by the Choir of Christ Church Arcadia, Pretoria

Fp: 21 November 2004; Christ Church, Pretoria, South Africa; Choir of Christ Church Arcadia, George King (conductor)

Score BD 0898

Duration: c. 3'00"

O when will we see that day (2007)

Motet for SATB choir a cappella

Text by Don Mattera

Commissioned by the Choir of Christ Church Arcadia, Pretoria

Fp: 24 December 2007; Christ Church, Pretoria, South Africa; Choir of Christ Church Arcadia, George King (conductor)

Score BD in preparation

[ Further info: Programme note ]

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Solo vocal works

Songs of Innocence (1973) ++

for voice and piano

Text by William Blake

Valentine (1999) +

for voice alone

Text by Michael Blake

Voice and String Quartet (2002)

for tenor and string quartet

Text by Tonic Solfa

Fp: 5 July 2002; New Music Indaba 2002, Grahamstown, South Africa; Musa Nkuna (tenor), Sontonga Quartet

Withdrawn and incorporated into "Solstice" and "String Quartet No 3"

Vocalise (2003) +

Drawn from the music for "The Man Who Knows Too Much"

for soprano and piano

Solstice: Seven Poems of Don Maclennan (2004)

1. The Well / 2. Blue / 3. Self-Knowledge / 4. Poetry / 5. Ownership / 6. Reduction / 7. Envoi

for tenor, horn and piano

Commissioned by SAMRO Endowment for the National Arts

Dedicated to Don Maclennan and Musa Nkuna

Fp: 14 August 2008; Musiaon, Pretoria, South Africa; Musa Nkuna (tenor), Shannon Armer (horn), Christine Lucia (piano)

Score and Horn Part BD in preparation

Duration: c. 19'00"

[ Further info: Programme note • Audio excerpt ]

Freihold (2007) +

Arrangement of Schoenberg "Sechs Lieder Op 3 Nr 6"

for mezzo-soprano and 11 players (flute/piccolo, oboe/cor anglais, clarinet, bass clarinet, trumpet in C, bass trombone, 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos)

Text by Hermann Lingg

Fp: 2 October 2007; Arnold Schoenberg Center, Vienna, Austria; Elisabeth Lang (mezzo-soprano), Ensemble Reconsil, Roland Freisitzer (conductor)

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Electronic

Millenium Beetles (2000) +

for 2-track tape

Ways to put in the salt (Havana version) (2008)

for solo piano and tape

In memory of Stockhausen

Fp: 16 March 2008; Basílica Menor San Francisco de Asís, Havana, Cuba; Michael Blake (piano)

Score and CD BD in preparation

Duration: 13'30"

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Miscellaneous

Cadenzas for Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor K466 (1994)

Fp: 16 July 1994; St Luke's, Brighton, England; Sally Rose (piano), Brighton Chamber Orchestra

BD in preparation

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