The Use of Indigenous Ghanaian Elements in Contemporary Orchestral Music

ABSTRACT

 Intercultural composition is the style of composition that blends both western and non-western elements together. Although composition can be done for solo or various sections of instruments, the height of this praxis is ultimately that for orchestra. At the inception of the orchestral tradition in Ghana, mostly western pieces were performed for audiences. From a process that began with Phillip Gbeho, a few composers from Ghana like Kenn Kafui and Nicholas Nayo have composed for orchestra, incorporating both indigenous and western elements. However, in our current musical tradition that is largely choral based, composing for orchestra in general seems to have been relegated to the backdrop. This study aims at a creative compositional process for orchestra employing resources from Kpanlogo, Agbadza and Apatampa traditional music forms.

These resources of interest, including rhythms, folksongs and other stylistic parameters will be transcribed and studied. Three original compositions will be produced based on the resources from these traditional music forms. Analysis will be to identify the compositional styles and techniques that will be employed in the compositions such as African pianism and syncretism. The study, involving a sampling of selected scores by some Ghanaian composers will briefly identify their compositional trends and styles. Of particular interest will be examples of their use of melodic and rhythmic resources. Research approaches will include libraries, participant observation and employment of qualitative data collection. It is expected that this study will open a new chapter on Art compositions for orchestra and serve as a reference source on how to employ indigenous and western elements in composition.