Using Ethno-Compositional Materials for Contemporary Music Composition: ‘Ovie’ E Flat Alto Saxophone and Piano Accompaniment as Musical Example

Okafor, Justina Enoh

doi:10.34257/gjhssavol20is7pg49

Abstract

The search for musico-cultural identity and nationalism in Africa as well as in Nigeria gave rise to the evolution of new compositional innovations which stemmed from the use of ethno-compositional materials drawn from such cultures for compositional purposes which are contemporary in structure, culturally oriented and globally relevant. Inresponse to this search, Nigerian Contemporary musicians and Art musicians/composers went back as it were to their ‘root’ giving birth to many contemporary compositions by various contemporary musicians and art musicians in Nigeria and Afr ica including other cultural clime. One of such contemporary composition is the musical example titled ‘Ovie’ for E flat Alto Saxophone and Piano accompaniment. In the musicological presentation of ‘Ovie’ for E flat Alto Saxophone and Piano accompaniment, the melodic structure/passage of the song texts ‘ovie’ was used as thematic mater ial to compose an entire work of 173 bars/measures. Presentation of information pertaining to its pre-compositional consideration and compositional techniques employed in the composition titled ‘ovie’ was discussed. Also literatures were reviewed to buttress facts where necessary.

Highlights

Composition usually involves individual’s innovative potentials which in turn involve contact and exposure to a wide spectrum/gamut of meaningful information on musical concepts and contents, coherent organization of ideas, synthesis and analysi s of the compositional process
In the musicological presentation of ‘Ovie’ for E flat Alto Saxophone and Piano accompaniment, the melodic structure/passage of the song texts ‘ovie’ was used as thematic mater ial to compose an entire work of 173 bars/measures
Having being faced with the tasks of providing relevance to the African characteristics in their compositions, contemporary musicians and art music composers/musicians turned to their musical heritage for inspirations and techniques which had been evidenced in their compositions

Summary

Introduction

Composition usually involves individual’s innovative potentials which in turn involve contact and exposure to a wide spectrum/gamut of meaningful information on musical concepts and contents, coherent organization of ideas, synthesis and analysi s of the compositional process. Using Ethno-Compositional Materials for Contemporary Music Composition: ‘Ovie’ E Flat Alto Saxophone and Piano Accompaniment as Musical Example speaking people, geographically located with Edo State identify such composition, the composer, ep och and to the North and East , Koko North Local Government cultural affiliation. Instances are titles such as ‘Iyere’siri’, Area to the East and Jesse clan t o the South. Traditional song titled ‘Ovie’ and the rhythmic 50 configurations of the ‘agogo’ (metal gong) from the instrumental ensemble of ‘Ekha Re Abere’- these formed the source material for the new composition titled ‘Ovie’ E flat Alto Saxophone and Piano Accompaniment; emerging a new stylistic idiom. ‘African instrumental melody in many instances derives from, and makes use of folk tunes... many

Pre-Compositional Considerations

Compositional Techniques Employed

Conclusion