Bolomakoté

This composition is inspired by the work Confrontations, which Wim Henderickx composed in 2003 on commission from the Zuiderpershuis in Antwerp. In this latter work, he wanted to explore the confrontation between non-Western and Western percussion, inspired by African rhythms and dance, among other things. In BOLOMAKOTé (a neighbourhood in Bobo-Diolasso where balafon players make music), he reworked certain parts of Confrontations into a work for Western percussion only. A solo percussionist is accompanied by a choir of four percussionists. Only rhythmic percussion instruments (skins, wood and metal) are used. There is a mixture of improvisation and notation. The work consists of a prologue and four parts: 1. Oppression 2. Revenge 3. Confrontation 4. Fusion