“Young Afro Future” (2014) is the third movement of Tijani and the final movement of Children’s Suite (2007-2014), which consists of nine movements for solo piano dedicated to my three children. I’m posting it today in honour of my son turning 10.
https://soundcloud.com/brussell/young-afro-future-live
There are three melodic ideas. The first is a pattern of ascending fourths in the right hand which goes through changes in pitch and harmony. The second is a bassline of staggered octaves which becomes a root-fifth-octave pattern in the second section. The first section of the movement is based on a rhythmic pattern of nine beats; the second, fours alternating with threes. The third idea arrives in this section: progressions of four-note chords moving in half notes, alternating with dotted quarters and then dotted half notes.
The thundering character of the left hand provides a contrast to the rest of the suite, which is relatively placid. This movement provides a bright, up-tempo ending to the overall work.
The form and structure here are simple, almost pop-song like. There is a limited amount of complexity and abstraction present in the harmonies and rhythms. I take inspiration from Bach’s Prelude in C major, in the idea of a repeating pattern cycling through changes of harmony.
Stephen Clarke, piano
World premiere recorded live at The Array Space, Toronto by Daniel Tapper, November 21, 2020
Photo: still from video by Daniel Tapper
Music and composer’s notes copyright Bruce A. Russell 2024
EL MAHBOOB 