An analytical study of five selected works Of Walter Komla Blege

Abstract

Walter K4mla Blege is a seasoned African art musician who uses his music to defend the cause of black Africans. He studied music at Mawuli Secondary School, Ho in the Volta Region of Ghana under the tutelage of Nicholas Zinzendorf Nayo and has continued by self-taught approaches to become a brilliant and prolific composer. This work, therefore, seeks to meticulously study and unearth the enviable compositional traits found in his works. It examines how he uses dances and other indigenous elements as fundamentals to drive home his desire for African art music composition. Five works out of his countless compositions were analysed using Sadoh and Tovey's descriptive approach. Under the methodology, the work utilises research tools of interview, observation, library research, internet exploration, and archival examination to gather data. The study establishes Blege's choral works as crucial in the annulment of the dogma of the church that forbids converts from participating in African music. Findings of the study described the illustrious career of Walter Blege as educationist, an administrator and an art music composer. The study also reveals him as somebody who expertly transcribes, repackages and translates music. Among his stylistic features is setting music to traditional dances with and without accompaniment. The study recommends that, like Walter Blege, other African art composers should adopt the inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic approaches in their compositions. Theologians should also look at him as a preacher due to the overly manner he uses music to preach the gospel in the context of Africa.