Catalogue of Works, Keyboard Works

AK-47 (1994)

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for piano and electronic bass drum (electronic bass drum may be omitted)

duration: 6 minutes

Faber Music publishing details

Audio

Programme Notes

      ‘Indeed, one may only ponder what Kalishnikov himself would make of that magnum opus of stertorous borborygms, Matthew Hindson’s

AK-47

      , a piano solo composed in 1994 (with optional electronic bass drum). Whilst it is still rare that art works are named after implements of destruction, in this case the title seems eminently suitable. From the outset, there is no doubt as to the work’s intention – and hence it continues, including everything from intensely vicious and overbearing violence to what could only be the psychotically nostalgic pinings of a Bosnian (or possibly Serbian) freedom fighter, one day too long in the field… But like a Patriot missile gone wrong,

AK-47

    does not in any way capture Kalishnikov’s original dream – no, only the the warped postures of those who find this invention a most suitable implement with which to enable their dreams and fantasies.’

From: “Masters and Mistresses Post-Modern: The Penetration Metaphor and New Life Post-Millenia”, by Jean-Luc Napoleon III, 1994.

CD Recording Available?

      This work has been recorded by Antony Gray on a disc entitled

Country Gardens

    , on the KNS Classical label.
      It has also been recorded by Simon Docking on a now-not-available disc entitled

Arc of Light

    , on the JADE label.

AK-47 can be found on YouTube in performances by Simon Docking and Ashley Hribar.

Reviews

      “The brave new world of pianism was invaded with all guns blazing by a brilliant Simon Docking on Sunday before his imminent flight (as in fleeing as well as flying) to America to advance his career… my favourite among the five premieres he expounded was

AK-47

      (1994) by Matthew Hindson, a piece (with optional electronic bass drum, an option accepted here) that sounds as if Khachaturian may have thought of it while primed with vodka and facing a Russian firing squad. This had wit.” –

Fred Blanks, The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 August 1994.

Other Information

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