Adolphus C. Hailstork

Griot Song

Griots are the traditional bards of West Africa—keepers of oral history, storytellers, poets, musicians, and advisors all in one. Adolphus Hailstork’s GRIOT SONG for alto saxophone and marimba imagines a griot performance through the lens of classical recital music. Though the composer reveals no explicit program behind the piece, the marimba part is at times reminiscent of griot instruments like the kora or balafon, and the saxophone part is often speechlike and improvisatory sounding. Beyond that, it is left to the performers (and listeners) to imagine what sort of tale they might be spinning in this rhythmic and engaging duet. For advanced performers.