GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
No Result
View All Result
Home Profiles

Complete Biography & Profile of Prof. J.H. Kwabena Nketia, Director At

August 6, 2016
in Profiles
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Kwabena Nketia was born (June 22, 1921) at Mampong, then a little town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He received his first musical education, and eventually trained as a teacher at the Presbyterian Training College, Akropong Akwapin – where he later taught and was appointed Acting Principal in 1952.

You Might Also Like

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo All You Need to Know His Life and Journey to the Presidency

Complete Biography & Profile of Ebaahi Sounds,

Complete Biography & Profile of Rev Yawson,

At 23, a very young age to go abroad in those days, Kwabena, through a Ghanaian government scholarship, went to the University of London to study for a certificate of phonetics at the School of Oriental and African studies.

He went on (1949) to Birkeck College, University of London, and Trinity College of Music, London, to obtain his Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1958 he came to the United States, attending Columbia University, Juliard School of Music, and Northwestern University to do courses in musicology and composition. After a year in the United States, he returned to Ghana where he rapidly rose through the ranks at the University of Ghana, Legon – from Senior Research Fellow (1962), to Associate Professor, and finally a full professor in 1963. Two years later, he was appointed Director of the Institute of African Studies.

Prof. Nketia is world-renowned as musicologist and composer. He is to African music what Bartok is to Western music. Of all the interpreters of African music and aesthetics, Nketia sets the pace. His concept and interpretation of time and rhythmic patterns in Ghanaian and other African folk music were revolutionary, and became standard for researchers and scholars around the world. For example, Nketia introduced the use of the easier-to-read 6/8 time signature in his compositions as an alternative to the use of duple (2/4) time with triplets used earlier by his mentor, Ephraim Amu. Although this practice undermined Amu’s theory of a constant basic rhythm (or pulse) in African music, and generated some debate, Nketia maintained that the constant use of triplets in a duple time signature was misleading. Today, many scholars around the world have found Nketia’s theory very useful in transcribing African music. Prof. Nketia’s work to reconcile the melodic and rhythmic elements of folk music with contemporary music spurred a new kind of compositional technique for African musicians and academics, worldwide. Other pioneering work include the transcription of many Ghanaian folk songs in a manner virtually free from Western influences.

Kwabena Nketia studied with the Rev. Danso, who was a pupil of Ephraim Amu. It is, therefore, no surprise that his earliest choral works were deeply influenced by the pioneering work of Ephraim Amu. Some of his well-known choral works include Adanse Kronkron, Morbid Asem, Monna N’Ase and Monkafo No. Other vocal works with piano accompaniment include Yaanom Montie, Onipa Dasani Nni Aye, Onipa Beyee Bi, Yiadom Heneba, Mekae Na Woantie, Maforo Pata Hunu, Obarima Nifahene and Asuo Meresen.

He also wrote extensively for Western orchestral instruments, like the flute, violin, cello, percussion and piano. But it is through Nketia’s pace-setting works for traditional African instruments that his genius is acclaimed.

He wrote for a variety of combinations of modern and local African instruments. Works in this category include the Builsa Work Song (1960), Dagarti Work Song (1961), At the Cross Roads (1961), Owora (1961), Volta Fantasy (1961) and Contemplation (1961).

Prof. J. H. Kwabena Nketia is currently the Director of the International Centre for African Music and Dance (ICAMD), based at the University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana. He travels extensively, and serves on the advisory panels of many top organizations. He was Professor of Music at UCLA, University of Pittsburgh, and has lectured in many top universities in the US, European, Africa and Asia, including the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Stanford University, Indiana University, City University of London, and the China Conservatory of Music.

Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia is easily the most published and best known authority on African music and aesthetics. He is the Director at the world-renowned International Center for African Music and Dance (ICAMD), which is based at the University if Ghana, Legon-Accra. He served as Professor of Music at UCLA, University of Pittsburgh, and has lectured in many top universities in the US, Europe, Africa and Asia, including the University of Michigan, Harvard, Stanford, Indiana, City University of London, and the China Conservatory of Music. Prof. Nketia will give lectures/demonstrations and workshops on African music.

Tags: accraafricaAfrican MusicAkin EubaAsiaassociate professorBirkeck CollegeChina Conservatory of MusicCity University of LondonColumbia UniversitycomposerdirectorDirector atDirector At Kwabena NketiaeducationEntertainment_CultureEphraim AmuEthnomusicologistseuropefull professorghanaGhanaian governmentHarvard UniversityIndianaIndiana UniversityInstitute of African StudiesInternational Center for African Music and DanceInternational Centre for African Music and DanceJ. H. KwabenaJ.H. Kwabena NketiaJoseph Hanson Kwabena NketiaJuliard School of MusickwabenalondonMichigannketiaNorthwestern UniversityPresbyterian Training CollegeProf. J.H. Kwabena NketiaprofessorProfessor of MusicSchool of Oriental and African StudiesStanford Universityteacherthe University of MichigantimeTrinity CollegeTrinity College of MusicUCLAUnited Statesuniversity of ghanaUniversity of LondonUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Pittsburghworks

Related News

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo All You Need to Know His Life and Journey to the Presidency

by
January 7, 2017
0

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was brought up in Accra Central and in the Nima area of Accra. Nana Akufo-Addo was...

Complete Biography & Profile of Ebaahi Sounds,

by
August 6, 2016
0

Ebaahi Sounds, is a traditional music and dance group based in Accra. They recently digitised their latest album Naa Daniowie,...

Complete Biography & Profile of Rev Yawson,

by
August 6, 2016
0

Reverend Yawson is an International Songwriter, Worship Leader, Bible School and Seminar lecturer in praise and worship. He is also...

Complete Biography & Profile of King David,

by
August 6, 2016
0

David Kotey Neequaye aka King David sings very well in English, Ga and Twi. Born to the late Seth Amon...

Next Post

Complete Biography & Profile of Alan John Kojo Kyerematen, Former Minister for Trade & PSI

Complete Biography & Profile of Yaw "NKOMODE" Donkor, Singer and Actor

Categories

  • Africa & World
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business
  • Business Directory
  • celebrities
  • Computing
  • Diaspora
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Ghana Elections 2016
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • International
  • Internet
  • Jobs
  • lifestyle
  • Music
  • News
  • Offbeat
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Profiles
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Seth Terkper
  • Smart Home
  • Social Networks
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • World News

Tags

accra addo africa Association football Banks - NEC business Business_Finance chairman Donald Trump economy education Entertainment_Culture environment Geography of Africa ghana Ghanaian people government Government of Ghana Human Interest John Dramani Mahama john mahama Law_Crime mahama minister MPs elected in the Ghanaian parliamentary election Nana Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Nana Akufo-Addo National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (NDC) New Patriotic Party New Patriotic Party (NPP) nigeria politics Politics of Ghana president Social Issues Social Media Social Media & Networking sports United Kingdom United Nations United States Vice President War_Conflict

Recent Posts

  • Government of Ghana Unveils Official Portraits of President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
  • Who Is the Woman (Sheena Gakpe) in Sarkodie’s Latest Hit “No Sir” and Why Everyone Is Talking about It
List of Ghana Holidays for 2020
Ghana Geocoding
Ghana Cedis Exchange API
Ghana Maps Service
Toyota Cars Auto Auction History
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business Directory
  • Diaspora
  • Top Stories

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com