African Patchwork

'African Patchwork' was created for the European 'Albert Schweitzer Year 2013' in remembrance of the foundation of the hospital in Lambaréne 100 years ago (1913). The organ sound, thought of as an ideal here, is the typical 'Albert Schweitzer sound': romantic, soft diapasons and string parts, hardly any mixtures, cymbals and tongues. This dark fundamental sound is joined by the djembé with its richness of high harmonics and its ability of modulation (the best-known of the African drums can be used in different sizes). Depending on the percussionist's creativity, the percussion part, notated in a quite rudimentary way, can be extended by various playing techniques, drum changes and pitch modulations of the drumhead. The notated percussion part can also be used as a basis for intuitive and improvisational playing.