Reminiscience of Manhyia Tete Adowa an original composition in contemporary idiom based on adowa music of the Akans of Ghana

Abstract

The research work took place both in Kumasi and Yamfo in the Ashanti and Brongegions of Ghana respectively. It consists of studying the Adowa musical type Akan and blends the musical elements drawn from it with scholarly compositional techniques as a way of contributing to African art music. The work the repertoire of Adowa. and critically examines its compositional techniques and utilizes the resources to compose new music. This new music preserves the traditional character of adowa albeit the resources of the twentieth century music. In this work, traditional Akan adowa musical type is discussed. The writer looks at rical perspective of the dance. In the historical perspective the writer the very beginning of the music and dance type which dates back to the e also discusses the social significance of the music and dance taking into e performance setting, which brings into focus the dancing arena, the traditional set up as well as the performance practice . Project methodology included various interviews, travel to rural communities, - observation, archival research, and audio/video recordings of traditional music.Again the work utilizes mainly western instruments because of the twentieth century rhythemic melodic and harmonic practises that have influenced the composition. It is meant to improve the perception of African music practice for the old and the young generation as well as the future.