REMINISCENCE OF MANHYIA TETE ADOWA AN ORIGINAL COMPOSITION IN CONTEMPORARY IDIOM

ABSTRACT

The research work took place both in Kumasi and Yamfo in the Ashanti and BrongAhafo Regions of Ghana respectively. It consists ofstudying the AdolVa musical type of the Akan and blends the musical elements drawn from it with scholarly compositional techniques as a way of contributing to African art music The work looks at the repertoire of AdolVa, and critically examines its compositional techniques and utilizes the resources to compose new music. This new music preserves the traditional character of adowa albeit the resources ofthe twentieth century music. In this work, traditional Akan adolVa musical type is discussed. The writer looks at the historical perspective of the dance. In the historical perspective the writer discusses the very beginning ~f the music and dance type which dates .back to the 1920's. He also discusses the social significance of the music and dance taking into account the performance setting, which brings into focus the dancing arena, the instrumental set up as well as the performance practice. Project methodology included various interviews, travel to rural communities, participant - observation, archival research, and audio/video recordings of traditional music. Again the work utilizes mainly western instruments because of the twentieth century rhythmic, melodic and harmonic practises that have influenced the composition. It is meant to improve the perception of African music practice for the old and the young generation as well as the future.