Songs of Africa: 22 pieces for mixed voices - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0193804654 ISBN 13: 9780193804654

Publisher: Oxford University Press Music, 2008

Synopsis

for SATB accompanied and unaccompanied
Fred Onovwerosuoke and the St. Louis African Chorus carefully selected the favorite, most requested songs from their workshops, while trying to represent a wide spectrum of Africas regions and cultural practicessongs of spirituality, religion, community, work, and play from Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Benin Republic, South Africa, Namibia, Gambia, and others. The result is Songs of Africa, a user-friendly resource that will satisfy the hunger for new, diverse choral repertoire. As a performance aid, this exciting collection also includes a pronunciation guide, notes on performance practice and cultural context, and, where accompaniment is needed or suggested, some accessible percussion charts.

About this title

About the Author:

Fred Onovwerosuoke was born in 1960 in Ghana to Nigerian parents and grew up in both countries. For over two decades Onovwerosuoke has traveled extensively in over thirty African countries researching and documenting Africas vocal music traditions. In 1994 he founded the St. Louis African Chorus to help nurture African choral music as a mainstream repertoire for performance and education. Today, the organizations mission has broadened to include other art music by composers of African descent. Onovwerosuoke maintains an active schedule as conductor, composer, and lecturer, and his music has been featured in films, documentaries, and radio. He currently serves as Artistic Director of the St. Louis African Chorus and has been Editor of the Voice of African Music newsletter since 1993. A more detailed biography is available online at http://africanchorus.org/fredo.htm.

Review:

Published arrangements of songs from Africa have not been uncommon in recent years, but this is the first volume I have seen that is genuinely pan-African in content, and compiled by someone completely immersed in Africa's diverse traditions and languages . . . In contrast to our predominant European mentality, what shines through again and again is the music's simplicty, playfulness and joy - one of many reasons to celebrate this unique publication. * Matthew Greenall, The Singer, April 09 * From OUP under the editorship of Fred Onovwerosuioke, the west African-born conductor and composer, comes a simply terrific volume of African songs for mixed voices, many with percussion or hand clapping, as well as the occasional instrument. The editor provides essential background information to each item as well as helpfully offering performance guidelines . . . The volume is attractively produced and would make a useful addition to the library of any choir looking to expand and refresh its repertory. Warmly recommended. * Philip Reed, Choir & Organ, September 09 * Now here's a really interesting book . . . And boy is it stimulating . . . Many of the arrangements or transcriptions are by Onovwerosuoke himself, and are interesting and ear-opening . . . A great collection for doing something different with your choir or, even better, to take to a workshop to work on preoperly and in depth. * Jonathan Wikeley, Music Teacher, March 09 *

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press Music
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0193804654
• ISBN 13: 9780193804654
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 140
• Editor: Fred Onovwerosuoke