African Pianism

African Pianism refers to a style of piano
music which derives its characteristic idiom from the procedures of
African percussion music as exemplified in bell patterns, drumming,
xylophone and mbira music. It may use simple or extended rhythmic motifs
or the lyricism of traditional songs and even those of African popular
music as the basis of its rhythmic phrases. It is open ended as far as
the use of tonal materials is concerned expect that it may draw on the
modal and cadential characteristics of traditional music. It’s harmonic
idiom may be tonal, atonal, consonant or dissonant in whole, in part,
depending on the preferences of the composer, the mood or impressions he
wishes to create or how he chooses to reinforce, heighten or soften the
jaggedness of successive percussive attacks. In this respect the
African composer does not have to tie himself down to any particular
school of writing if his primary aim is to explore the potential of
African rhythmic and tonal usages.

The pieces in this book were
written to give the African piano student something with African
rhythmic and tonal flavour that may enrich the experience, shape
orientation, sense of timing and coordination of rhythmic and tonal
events.