African Music for the World Stage

Description J. H. Kwabena Nketia

Twelve chants have been selected for this collection—pieces that are harmonically and rhythmically accessible, yet rich in spirit. Each one carries an atmosphere of peace, calm, and hope, qualities desperately needed in this moment of global pandemic, socioeconomic tension, and the urgent call for dialogue. The composer has often shared these chants in workshops as a way of inviting participants into the sanctum of Africa—its rhythmic vitality, its harmonic colors, its spiritual grounding. With this collection, it feels right to share these chants more widely, with the conviction that intercultural musical arts hold a profound capacity to heal and to unite. Special discount for choral groups! Call 314-652-6800 or email info@ampublishers.org to purchase 10 or more copies at $10/copy discount, with free shipping to any destination in the United States.

Description Product details: Audio CD (September 12, 2016) Label: AM Publishers ASIN: B01LPBKQTM

With this edition composer Fred Onovwerosuoke is basically obliging the growing request to make some of his most familiar works available for alternative instruments. The book contains seven of the twelve pieces from the violin and piano set, and are also available on demand for other C-instruments. Email info@ampublishers.org or telephone at +1 314 652-6800.

Description With this edition composer Fred Onovwerosuoke is basically obliging a growing request to make some of his most familiar works available for alternative instruments. All twelve of the Eclectic Pieces are included here! This publication includes parts for the violin soloist and with the piano accompaniment. Other instrumental parts are provided upon request during order, or email to info@ampublishers.org or telephone at +1 314 652-6800. For a limited time only, order now to receive a signed copy from the composer!

Description Oja Flute Suite, Joshua Uzoigwe's seminal work for flute captures, in three movements, the vast landscape of flute music encompasing solilloquy, elegy and bitonalism.

Description The iconic work for flute and piano by J.H. Kwabena Nketia. Also recorded by flutist Wendy Hymes and pianist Darryl Hollister on the CD, "African Art Music for Flute"

Description PROGRAM NOTES Rhapsodies for Wind Quintet is a whimsical collection of musical vignettes, each with its own unique character and charm. No. 1, subtitled "Nwomkro," takes inspiration from Ghana's vibrant Akan song-dance traditions with the same name. My fondest childhood memories include the mesmerizing performances of women-led groups around Kumasi. This movement is a rhythmic celebration, challenging the ensemble to perform as a cohesive unit of singers, dancers, and drummers—all at once! It is lovingly dedicated to our dear friend and treasured "Auntie," Janet Riehl. Her heartfelt stories of traveling through Africa, particularly Ghana and Botswana, continue to inspire and evoke cherished memories. Fred Onovwerosuoke, composer

Description Product details Spiral-bound: 33 pages Spiral-bound – 2016 Publisher: African Music Publishers (2016) ISBN-10: 1934621196 ISBN-13: 978-1934621196

Description Fred Onovwerosuoke

Description The Suite for Horn and Piano (with optional percussion and interpretive dance) is another sonic foray into African mythology, traditions, and metaphysics. It’s my first in-depth exploration into the versatility of the French horn. After all, what other instrument can straddle so regally on the thrones of the woodwinds and the brass families of instruments! Subtitled “Tales of Sango,” each of the six movements captures an aspect or variation of the many tales about one of the most feared yet venerable of all Yoruba deities: Sango, the god of Lightning and Thunder, or as some anthropologists would put it, the “Thor” of African mythology. Indeed, each movement is a complete kaleidoscope into new horizons of rhythms, exotic harmonies, and intercultural exploration. Movement 1, “Arrival” is a clarion call heralding a dignitary into a community. Movement 2, “Homage” is a nostalgic glimpse of a new land, new peoples, filled with promise; it’s conversational, yet a soliloquy. Movement 3, “Forest Dreams” is an energetic recount of adversities traversed in distant lands. In “Oracles,” or Movement 4 a tentative libation to appease ancestral forebears. Movement 5, “Childhood Dreams” is a reminisce of toddler years long past – of simple but delicate times. Finally, the last movement, “Sango Farewell,” deft, boisterous, heroic, deliberately crafted to bring the work to a rousing close. The optional part for twin-congas or djembe drum in movements 3, 4, 5, and 6 is intended to paraphrase fragments of Yoruba bata drumming, and along with the optional interpretive dances for movements 2, 3 and 5 should immensely enhance the performance.

Description Suite No. 1 for String Orchestra (Full/Conductor score only)

Description by Fred Onovwerosuoke

Description Including three lovely and very individual pieces by Bongani Ndodana-Breen and Fred Onovwerosuoke. Edited by Wendy Hymes and Fred Onovwerosuoke

Description With gratitude for another commission from the celebrated violinist Irina Muresanu, I’m able to chart a new horizon: experiment with the sonorities of the less familiar instrumentation of 2 violins, 2 violas, the violoncello, and the contrabass. The first movement of this work, subtitled Udje: Dance of the Missing Sweet was repurposed from my African rhythmic Study No. 3, though with a little reference to a motivic tune from Act 2 of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. In the second movement, subtitled Mshila: Guiding Spirits I found another medium to explore new ideas with the Pende tale of motherhood from the Congo region in central Africa. Perhaps the unintended crown jewel of this commission would be evident in the third movement, subtitled Tales of the Spider — and there are indeed many ‘spider tales’ around Africa and in the African diaspora, especially Haiti and Louisiana (“Compair Bouki” and “Compair Lapin”), Venezuela and Cuba. This final movement thus was inspired by variant tales alluding to Spider’s witty plot to pitch Elephant, “King of the Land” against Hippopotamus, “Queen of the Rivers” and somehow, the usually gallant horse is complicit in Spider’s trickery to bait the two rivals. And, as with most African stories, nothing is more exhilarating than when it all culminates in a spontaneous dance celebration!

Description Three Pieces for Woodwind Trio Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe & Bassoon Availability: Score and parts, MIDI a udio rendition Performance Time: 12:00 minutes Licensing:ASCAP/AMP

"With this collection, once again Fred Onovwerosuoke is reaching out to the public desirous of sharing in the musical experience that Africa has to offer. I commend the publication not only to singers but also to music educators and concert repertoire." – J.H. Kwabena Nketia, eminent musicologist. "The Songs are glorious!"- Karen Slack, Grammy-Winner soprano