SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: Music

CONTRIBUTORS:

Okpara, M.U;
Achikeh, C.M;

ABSTRACT:

Indigenous choral and instrumental music occupy prominent positions in Igbo liturgy and Senior Secondary School Practical Music Examinations. The problem of the study is dearth of both genres, hence the researcher was compelled to compose six liturgical songs and seven instrumental pieces to fill the yawning gaps in Church worship and meet the standards and specifications for the NECO Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) Practical Music Examinations. This research aimed at composing six adequate standardized contemporary indigenous liturgical songs and seven instrumental folk-tune arrangements for Igbo Anglican worship and NECO SSCE Practical Music Examinations respectively in these media: piano, alto saxophone, violin, recorder, flute and a xylophone ensemble. It also sought to present original compositions and arrangements in conformity with the international standard of notation to enhance easy access, learning and performance of the pieces in all parts of the world. It is envisioned that the compositions should also serve as materials for future research in this area of study. The research was conducted through case study, library, participatory observation, discussion approaches of qualitative research methods of interaction with some purposively selected Igbo Anglican Churches, their choirmasters and some Igbo art music composers. A compositional research approach of studying the works of some renowned Igbo art music composers was also carried out with a view to gathering useful materials from their compositional techniques for the researcher’s compositions in this study. Agu’s theory on compositional procedures in African music practices was adopted in this work. These compositions reflect Agu, Nwuba and Nzewi’s incorporation of African melodic structures into Western harmonic styles resulting in contemporary indigenous art music compositions of International standard. This study has utilized African and Western musical elements as creative possibilities in composing music for Church and School use. Secondary Schools and Igbo Anglican Churches are encouraged to embrace these compositions to serve the required purposes.