The Choral Prof Nketiah

…Ghanaian-nizing the genre on CD

By: JAMES HARRY OBENG

Legend -- Prof. J.H Kwabena Nketiah

For the present-day generation of Ghanaian music-lovers, choral music is likely to be seen as ‘something’ owned and appreciated by the plentiful church and school choir-groups spread across the country.

Yes, it is true, but not true!

True, in the sense that just as situations elsewhere, choral music has traditionally found solace with the church (and school) where choirs are usually put together. This is why in Ghana, most people are only able to define choral music with the Tema and Winneba youth choirs in their mind.

But not true, in the sense that choral music has forever been ‘absorbed’ and appreciated – to a large extent – as soothing music by many Ghanaians across generations, and as such, owned and sang by all. The absorption rate becomes particularly infectious and addictive, if the appreciator has a classic taste for good music, or hails from an orthodox persuasion – like the Methodist or Presbyterian churches.

Whichever way one looks at it, choral music has made – and continues to make – significant contributions to the national and individual lives of Ghanaians, aside providing a variety to the entertainment industry. But the genre has suffered greatly of non-patronage.

Just as one critic put it, choral music “may have gone comatose, but never it really gave up the ghost (in Ghana), thanks to the staying power of the church and workplace choirs” who have relived it with their activities on different platforms and in different dimensions.

But aside the exploits of the church and choir-groups in keeping alive the genre in the country, there have been great Ghanaian composers whose artistry have led to Ghanaian-nizing choral music. Prior to these great composers, choral music had probably covered performances from the Methodist Hymn Book or any such available foreign literature.

These composers came up with original renditions in local languages that did only whip up national patriotism, but to a large Ghanaian-nised the genre. One such composer is Professor Emeritus J. H. Kwabena Nketiah, the legendary Ghanaian ethnomusicologist, whose exploits have been celebrated across board, near and far, home and abroad!

Indeed Prof. Nketiah’s works have spanned generations, with each appreciating the 90-plus-one-old’s rich repertoire of renditions. Now, here is the good news: some of these collections have been put together on compact disc (CD), in addition to some solo songs by the great composer.

This will afford Ghanaians and lovers of choral music, especially those who never knew and heard about such compositions written as far back as the 1940’s, the opportunity to own, listen and appreciate the artistry of the country’s and world’s all-time greatest.

The recording of CD falls under a project drawn as part of the ‘Nketiah @ 90 Choral Concert’ held in Accra last year, to commemorate his 90th birthday.

Some of these compositions include: Agya Nyame Adom Ahwe Yen; M’aforo Patahunu (I Have Climed the Ceiling in Vain – 1943); Mefre Kwasi (I am Calling Kwasi – 1950); Mmere Nyinaa Nse (Times Change – 1943); Monna N’ase (Thanks Be To God – 1942); Mpere Nto Akyamfoɔ Tuo (Do Not Be In A Hurry To Shoot a Prominent Citizen – 1943); Nnansa Ne Nne (It Happened Three Days Ago – 1947) and Nkyirimma Nye Bi (Let Each Generation Follow Suite – 1970), among others.

The songs, all written, composed and arranged by Prof. Nketiah, were performed by the University of Cape Coast Community Choir and the Tema Youth Choir, recorded at the Vision Audio Laboratory. Other contributors are: Benedict Assan Sackey (Conductor), Alfred Patrick Adaquay (pianist), John Wesley Danquah and Kwesi Essel Ahinkorah (soloists).

The CD album, produced by the Nketiah Music Foundation for Media Excel Productions (MEP) shops in Accra, is marketed and distributed nationwide by the Media Excel stores at Katamanto and Despite Shops, UTC, as well as all respectable CD shops and accredited bookshops across the country.

Ernest Kwesi Ernest, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Media Excel Productions – the producers – told the ‘Spectator Agoro’ on Monday that patronage of the albums has been phenomenal, indicative of the “quality of the songs and the fact a lot Ghanaians didn’t know such compositions existed. You are missing something, if you are not a choral music fan!”