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Africa - Symphonic Movement for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 73 (1972)



Allegro - Pił moderato - Pił allegro
Meno mosso - Tempo di marcia funebre
Allegro - Pił moderato - Pił allegro

Composed in 1972, it was inspired by the United Nations Resolution of that year which "condemned the Government of South Africa for continuing its policies of apartheid in violation of its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations".

The opening allegro and pił moderato, first positive, and then lyrical, is interrupted in the pił allegro by harsher themes, expressive of the apartheid regime. Then vigorous African melodies are introduced, but are overpowered twice, the second time by an evocation of the Sharpeville shootings in which 67 unarmed Africans were shot dead and nearly 200 injured by government troops. Then follows an extended funeral slow movement, which leads to the development section of the work, where African melodies are treated more fully than in the first section. A recapitulation of both West European and African material follows, and in the brief and triumphal coda, which foreshadows a happy and free South Africa, they are presented in counterpoint to one another.


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