Michael Blake
Michael Blake was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1951. He studied at the South African College of Music in Cape Town, the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (Bachelor of Music degree) and University of London Goldsmiths College (Master of Music degree). In 2000 he was awarded a doctorate by Rhodes University in South Africa. From 1977 to 1997 he was based in London as composer, pianist and teacher. He formed London New Music in 1986 and was the group’s pianist and conductor for ten years, giving many concerts and broadcasts in the UK and Europe. He performs throughout the world as a soloist and in a number of duos, playing new music. He has lectured at amongst others, Goldsmiths College (London), Rhodes University (Grahamstown) and the Janacek Academy (Brno). He is Artistic Director of New Music Indaba, South Africa’s only new music festival, and President of the South African Section of the ISCM.
Symbols and Abbreviations
Instrumentations are shown numerically in the standard orchestral order of
woodwind-brass-timpani.percussion-harp-other instruments-strings (all five parts unless
otherwise specified). Additional instruments or doublings are shown by their appropriate
abbreviations within this framework, where + means doubling and opt. means
optional. A zero (0) indicates than an instrument is not scored.
Thus:
2(2+picc).2.ca.2(2+bcl).2.cbn-4.3.3(1opt).1-timp.2perc-hp-pno(+hpsch)-str
indicates an orchestra of
2 flutes(2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets (2nd doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons, double bassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones (1 of which is optional), tuba, timpani, percussion (2 players), harp, piano(doubling harpsichord) and strings
* = performance material available on hire (rental)
The specifications in this listing were accurate at the time it was created
Orchestral Music
*Kwela (1992; rev. 1996)
for elastic scoring
*Out of the Darkness
(1993-94)
for piano and small orchestra
2(2+picc).1.2(1+Eb.2+bcl).1-2.0.0.0-perc(1)-hp-str(0.0.0.2.1)
10 minutes
lst performance: St Luke's Brighton, 16 July, 1994, Sally Rose (piano), Members of
the Brighton Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Guy Richardson
Chamber Music
*Self Delectative Songs (1986)
First version: cl(+bcl).tpt(+flhn).vc.pno.mba(+vib)
Second version: string quartet and piano
12 minutes
lst performance (First version): Purcell Room, London, 26 April, 1986, Metanoia
"Michael Blake's Self Delectative Songs fell gently and pleasingly on the ear."; (Malcolm Hayes, The Times)
*Cum martelli incrudena (1987)
after 13th century anonymous
for elastic scoring (2cl or tpt.gtr or hps or pno.vib or mar or glock.vn or va.vc)
2 minutes
lst performance: Purcell Room,London, 3 May, 1989, London New Music
Michael Blakes divertimento on African traditional music, The Seasons, made an unpretentious and brightly-heard finish to the evening. (Bayan Northcott, The Independent)
Quartet for Flute and Strings (1989)Quintet for Basset Clarinet (or Clarinet) in A and
String Quartet (1990)
for classical or modern instruments
basset cl (cl in A ad lib).2vn.va.vc
12 minutes
commissioned by Yorkshire Arts for Lesley Schatzberger and the Fitzwilliam Quartet
Score BD 0605; Parts BD 0605/1
lst performance: University of York, 7 March, 1991, Lesley Schatzberger and the
Fitzwilliam Quartet
It was an easy-going piece, based largely on African musical sources, its minimalist gestures reminding me strongly of the Stravinsky of around 1914. (David Mather, Yorkshire Evening Press)
String Quartet No.1
(1991)
Mysteries
(1993-96)
for four percussionists
8 minutes
Playing score BD 0795 in preparation
Let us run out of the rain (1995)
for vibraphone and marimba, 4 players
10 minutes
Playing score BD 0318 (2 copies included)
1st performance: The Kings School, Canterbury, 1 March, 1996, Ensemble Bash
38a Hill Street Blues (2000)
for pan remix (tenor, double tenor, double second, cellos, bass, rattles, congas
and bass drum)
4 minutes
Score BD 0807; Parts BD 0807/1 in preparation
(Lower) String Quartet and Electric Guitar (2000)
for electric guitar, viola, viola da gamba,
cello and double bass
6 minutes
Score BD 0806 in preparation; Parts BD 0806/1 in preparation
lst performance: Evenings of New Music, Bratislava, 9 June, 2000, Musica Aeterna
Instrumental Music
Spirit (1985)
for flute solo
3 minutes
Score BD0206
lst performance: Festival of the Spirit, London, May 1985, Tessa Swade
Michael Blake's tight minimalist duet Hindewhu exploited the fruity resonance of the early nineteaul Simmonds
...a short piece with aspirations of epic. It starts out as an engaging pastiche-cum-homage to the giants born in 1685 but then develops into less tonally certain areas. (Guy Rickards, Tempo)
Cadenzas for Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor K466 (1994)Michael Blake's composition Let us run out of the rain persists in the memory, captivating above all with its playfulness and simplicity, with the infusion of a poetic sense characterized by clarity of ideas and delight in the creation of music. (Igor Berger, Musical Life, Bratislava)
Thirteen Inventions (1988)...a short piece with aspirations of epic. It starts out as an engaging pastiche-cum-homage to the giants born in 1685 but then develops into less tonally certain areas. (Guy Rickards, Tempo)
Cadenzas for Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor K466 (1994)Reverie (1995-96)
for two pianos
9.5
minutes
Score BD 0691
1st performance: ICA London, 31 March, 1996, Sally Rose and Tony Gray
San Polyphony (1998;
rev. 1999)
for organ
20 minutes
commissioned by the National Arts Council
Score BD 0802 in preparation
more toys (nos. 1 & 2) (1997)
for piano
3 minutes each
Score BD 0803 in prepartion
38a Hill Street Blues
(2000)
for piano
4 minutes
1st performance: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 25
March, 2000, Marcel Worms
BVW Fragments
for piano
X minutes
Score BD 0804 in preparation
Nightsongs
for piano
X minutes
Score BD 0805 in preparation
Choral Music
Beamish Grace
SAB a cappella
Text: Latin
2 minutes
Score BD 0800 in preparation
lst performance: Beamish Hall, Durham, 24 July, 1988, Choir of the University of Durham
Weekend Course for Singers, conducted by Murray Brown
Film Music
*Erotikon (Score
for the 1929 silent film by Gustav Machaty)
for flute, bass clarinet, viola and piano
87 minutes
1st performance: National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa, 8 July, 2000, Michael Blake Ensemble
© Bardic Edition 2019
Inverurie Website Design