Voice Solo with Piano and Choruses for T.T.B.B
Author: Joshua Alfred Amuah
ISMN 979-0-9008043-0-3
DOI: 10.38159/npub.eb20504
Published: 15th May, 2020
Growing up as a musician, voice was and continues to be my principal instrument. In the course of performances, I realised that there was a limitation of pieces to perform. Pieces available were composed by the two giants in Ghanaian musicology; Ephraim Amu and Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia, both of blessed memory. Their pieces have been over depended, such that they have nearly lost their beauty.
This book of Voice Solo with Piano and Choruses for T.T.B.B, has seven solo works accompanied by the piano with two choruses for male choirs, pieces that are also scarce because of the unavailability of such choirs.
The text of the pieces have been drawn from inspiration, partly from occurrences in our routine social activities, and arrangements form existing works for choral groups. Out of the seven solo pieces, three are secular ones, which relate to our daily mundane events, and four are sacred reflecting my inclination to the work of God. Two out of the four are arrangements from Ebibindwom pieces which have been designated for S.A.T.B by Isaac Daniel Riverson and Michael Amissah respectively. The two choruses for male choir are shared among our daily routine activities and the work of God.
Although the book is primarily for use by students in Senior High Schools and Universities it would be found particularly useful by performers who want to stage a concert. Secular pieces are uncommon in our part of the world and it is about time we begin to write and popularise them.
Joshua Alfred Amuah, Ph.D,
Department of Music,
School of Performing Arts (SPA),
University of Ghana, Legon.
Joshua Alfred Amuah is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Music, School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon. He holds a Ph.D. in Music, from the University of Ghana, Legon and University of Rochester, NY, USA, M. Phil in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Ghana, Legon, Bachelor of Education in Music and Ghanaian Language (Akan) and a Diploma in Music Education, from University of Education, Winneba.
He teaches Music Theory and Composition and other related courses to undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Department of Music, University of Ghana, Legon and is actively involved in Choral Directing and Adjudication throughout Ghana. With a teaching credential in Music Theory from the University of Ghana, he takes interest in the choral music composition using traditional music elements in contemporary Ghana. His research interest also spans a blend of indigenous and Western choral music compositional trends, which are utilized in the church.
He has written a number of books on Rudiments and Theory of Music for use of Senior High Schools, Colleges of Education and Universities. Within the last few years, Joshua has come out with two anthologies: Songs for Christmas, composed by Ghanaians and Passion pieces suitable for rendition during Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
He belongs to professional bodies of music including the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Ghana Music Teachers Association, (GMTA), Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM), Association of Methodist Church Choirs where he served as the National 1st Deputy Director of Music. He is also a member of the Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education (PASMAE).
To his credit, he won the first prize award of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana anthem composition contest in 1995.
1. Bɔne Bɛn? (What Crime?) 1
2. Ɔbɔbɔ adze (It will come to an end) 15
3. Bɔm’ nantsew (Lead me on) 20
4. Nkotwa du (You won’t score ten) 26
5. M’bɛda Nyame ase (I will render thanks unto God) 31
6. Me Nyame bra o! (Come! My God) 36
7. Buebue Sor ntokura (Open the windows of Heaven) 41
8. Wɔmma yɛnkɔdo nsom Ewuradze 46
9. Bɔne Bɛn? (What Crime) 50