Verve Dialogues with Àjàntálá (I) (Solo Piano)

Product Content:
- Sheet Music
- Program Notes
- Full MIDI Audio

"Àjàntálá," inspired by D. O. Fágúnwà's classic Yorùbá novel Ògbójú Ode Ní’nú Igbó Irúnmolè and Wole Soyinka's translation Forest of a Thousand Daemons, is a solo piano work divided into three acts. This piece, structured in a ternary form with a modified scherzo, creatively adapts the narrative's themes into a dynamic musical experience. The scherzo form is reflected in an A-B-A structure, with each section representing different parts of the story. The piano serves as a 'speech surrogate,' with the middle range embodying the primary 'dialogue' of Àjàntálá, while responses are articulated through the outer ranges. The opening ostinato theme, marked by angular intervals and a danceable rhythm, captures the ironic celebration of a baby’s arrival. This composition blends playful, celebratory elements with the rich cultural context of Yorùbá Òyó dialect, providing a unique and engaging musical narrative.