Michael Blake is South African composition’s most important link to the American and British experimental traditions of the second half of the 20th century. It is a connection that derives as much from the composer’s temperament and aesthetic sensibility, as from more conscious decisions relating to the socio-political positioning of composition. As regards the former, Blake’s affinity with composers like Charles Ives and John Cage precedes his mature engagements with these composers through an embrace of certain qualities of openness relating to musical structure and material that can be heard throughout the works recorded on this album. Blake’s “song without words” demonstrates deconstruction, playfulness, irregularity, irony and a postmodern referential sensibility. Apart from “song without words,” which was written in 1972, the seven other works recorded on this album date from between 2008 and 2016, a period of mature compositional activity bookended by the composer’s retirement to the village of Hout Bay near Cape Town late in 2008, and relocation to France in 2015.

Nicolas Hodges occupies a unique position among the world’s most distinguished piano soloists. His ability to perfectly perform unconventional, hyper-complex works of extreme technical difficulty is legendary, but he also possesses a deep musical understanding of the music he performs, which he often prepares in consultation and collaboration with the composers. Less well known but equally fascinating are his interpretations of the music of earlier centuries, in which he is always able to rediscover fresh and contemporary qualities. On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth, Nico-las Hodges has juxtaposed Beethoven’s music with works by the English com-poser Harrison Birtwistle (born in 1934). Discovering that the two composers have much in common, he reveals the contemporary potential still present in Beethoven and the parallels to be found in Birtwistle’s compositions, many of which were composed especially for Hodges. This studio recording was produced by the WDR in Cologne. Hodge’s playing is radically contemporary, impulsive, and full of surprises and humor. Anyone expecting soothing background music should definitely look elsewhere!