African Pianism Volume 2: Still much to explore

I'm sorry I missed volume one of this series. Not to worry. After auditioning this release, I went back and picked up a copy. Volume Two continues Rebeca Ormordia's exploration of African piano music. 

There's a lot to explore. Africa is a large continent with many cultures and many musical traditions. In some cases, Western classical traditions provide the frame for African musical gestures. For others, African thumb piano music are translated into Western piano technique. 

An example of the latter is "Cry of Joy" by Ethiopian composer Yifrashewa Girma. It's a fascinating work that sounds fresh and vibrant on the modern piano. 

Salim Dada uses the other approach. Traditional Algerian motifs are used in this Debussy-inspired suite. "Miniatures Algeriennes" has authenticity. It's an authenticity Western composers' "oriental" music misses. 

Benabdeljalil Nabil has four works on the album. This Moroccan composer is concerned with "the poetic essence of musical expression." There are almost no folk elements here, nor obvious Western traditions. Rather, these works truly express the ideas of a creative individual -- Benabdeljalil. 

Nigerian composer Akin Eurba has three selections from his "Study in African Pianism." Here the blend of African and Western European traditions seems perfectly balanced. 

Omordia includes a few outliers, too. Florence Price's "Negre in E minor" is one. The music shows traces of African traditions but filtered through African-American culture.

Rebeca Omordia is a tremendous musician. She makes every work sound simple and natural. 

If nothing else, this release shows how varied African classical music is. This could well be an open-ended series. I suspect there are more truly great African piano music awaiting international discovery. 

African Pianism, Volume 2
Rebeca Omordia, piano
SOMM Recordings SOMM 0688