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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Article
The Study and Practice of Theory and Composition Among Women in Ghana
Author(s)
Joshua Alfred Amuah
Full-Text PDF
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2013.11.007
Affiliation(s)
University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana
ABSTRACT
The performance and composition of traditional choral music were championed and dominated by women. Unfortunately, the involvement of women in the practice of art music, specifically theory and composition in Ghana has been observed to be absent or very minimal, the cause of which is problematic to identify. This paper examines why women have been passive in the performance and composition of this musical genre, and suggests avenues for improvement in the situation. Fifteen women across various musical genres: Traditional, Art and Popular were interviewed to ascertain this fact. The results will serve as an aid for an improvement of this unfortunate situation in Ghana.
KEYWORDS
theory, composition, traditional, popular, art
Cite this paper
References
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Sasu, E. (2006). Gender in musical arts practice and education in Ghana (Unpublished M.Phil Thesis, University of Education, Winneba).
Turkson, A. A. (1972). Effutu Asafo music: A study of a traditional music of Ghana with reference to the role of tonal language in choral music involving structural and harmonic analysis (Doctoral Dissertation, Northwestern University).
Turkson, A. A. (1975). Evolution of Fante sacred lyric. Research Review.
Turnbull, C.M. (1962). The forest people. New York: Touch stone books, Simon and Schuster.
Waterman, C. A. (2000). Yoruba popular music. In R. Stone (Ed.), The Garland encyclopedia of African music (2nd ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University.
Agawu, K. (1984). The impact of language on musical composition in Ghana: An introduction to the musical style of Ephraim Amu. Ethnomusicology, 28(1), 37-73.
Agawu, K. (1995). African rhythm: A Northern Ewe perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ampene, K. (1999). The creative processes in : A female song tradition of the Akan of Ghana. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA).
Ampene, K. (2005). A female song tradition of the Akan of Ghana. The creative processes in . Pittsburgh: USA. Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Amuah, J. A. (2012). The use of traditional elements in contemporary Ghanaian choral music: Perspectives from selected works of Geroge Worlasi Kwasi Dor, Nicodemus Kofi Badu and New love Annan. (Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon).
Anning, J. L. (1965). Melodic analysis of the Adenkum. In Papers in African Studies (Vol. 3). Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
Barber, K. (1987). Popular arts in Africa. African Studies Review, 30, 1-78.
Birrer, F. A. J. (1985). Definitions and research orientation: Do we need a definition of popular music?. In D. Horn (Ed.), Popular music perspectives. Sweden: University of Gothenburg.
Chernoff, J. M. (1985). The drums of Dagbon in repercussions: A celebration of African-American music. In G. Haydon & D. Marks, (Eds.). London: Century Company.
Collins, J. (1991). “Classic” highlife tunes: Scores of almost one hundred dance band and guitar band highlife songs. Copenhagen: Fleming Harrev.
Dor, G. W. K. (2005).Uses of indigenous music genres in Ghanaian choral art music: Perspectives from the works of Amu, Blege, and Dor. Journal of Ethnomusicology, 49 (3).
Dortey, M., & Arhine, A. (2010). The performance arts and the post-colonial Ghanaian experience: Ghana National Symphony Orchestra in perspective. African Studies Research Review, 26 (1).
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2010). New York: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
Essandoh, I. K. (1998). Gospel Highlife: The status and impact of a Ghanaian Popular Music genre. (Unpublished M.Phil Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon).
Fiagbedzi, E. K. (2010). Women, music and culture: A study of Naaamanua, a neo-traditional Ghanaian musician. (Unpublished M. Phil Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon).
Frisbie, C. (1971). The Anthropology and ethnological implications of a comparative analysis of Bushmen and Pygmy music. Ethnology, 10 (3).
Makore, S. (2004). Women in music: Some notes on Zimbabwe. In S. Magnus (Ed.), Sounds of change: Social and political feature of music in Africa (pp. 47-56). Stockholm: Sida Studies.
Mensah, A. A. (1971). Folk songs for schools. Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
Middleton, R. (1990). Studying popular music. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Mokwunyei, J. N. (1998). The role of women in African music. In C. VanNiekerk (Ed.), Proceedings of the 23rd ISME World Conference (pp. 434-442). PreForia: UNISA.
Nketia, J. H. K. (1955). Funeral Dirges of the Akan People. London: James Townsend and Sons Ltd.
Nketia, J. H. K. (1963). African music in Ghana. Chicago: Northwestern University Press.
Nketia, J. H. K. (1974). The music of Africa. New York: W.W. Norton and co., Inc.
Nketia, J. H. K. (1978). The typology of contemporary Ghanaian choral music. Accra: Arts Council of Ghana.
Okwan, F. (2013). Gender biases against women in the development of popular music in Ghana. (Unpublished M.Phil Thesis, University of Education, Winneba).
Omojola, B. (2006). Popular music in Western Nigeria—Theme, style and patronage system. Ibadan: Gold Press Limited.
Opoku, A. A. (1970). Festivals of Ghana. Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
Prempeh, G. (1986). Arts and entertainment for December 12-18. People and Places (P&P), p. 4.
Randel, M. (Ed.). (1986). The new Harvard dictionary of music. Cambridge, M.A.: Belknap Press of Harvard University.
Roberts, J. S. (1974). Black music of two worlds. William New York: Marrow and Company.
Sasu, E. (2006). Gender in musical arts practice and education in Ghana (Unpublished M.Phil Thesis, University of Education, Winneba).
Turkson, A. A. (1972). Effutu Asafo music: A study of a traditional music of Ghana with reference to the role of tonal language in choral music involving structural and harmonic analysis (Doctoral Dissertation, Northwestern University).
Turkson, A. A. (1975). Evolution of Fante sacred lyric. Research Review.
Turnbull, C.M. (1962). The forest people. New York: Touch stone books, Simon and Schuster.
Waterman, C. A. (2000). Yoruba popular music. In R. Stone (Ed.), The Garland encyclopedia of African music (2nd ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University.