OGORO-UGWUOKE: AN EXPLORATIVE RESEARCH COMPOSITION ON IKORODO MUSIC OF NSUKKA

Abstract

Music is an aspect of creative expression by which scholars try to capture and articulate their ideology, religious and socio - cultural background through composition. In this era of post modernism and post structuralism, composers are bent on thinking in new ways and new perspectives. Arguably, Ikorodo traditional music has not been fully explored in both the area of vocal and instrumental composition. Ogoro-Ugwuoke is a piano composition that derived its compositional materials from the musical elements and idioms found in Ikorodo traditional music of Nsukka people. This article examines the possibilities of using these materials in a post structural compositional domain leveraging on the concept of African pianism as already highlighted in the works of Akin Euba, Joshua Uzoigwe, Christian Onyeji and others. Using recordings from the field work, discussions/interviews, transcription and analysis of traditional music and library reviews, Ogoro-Ugwuoke provides both a theoretical and practical platform that aids the study of traditional music which could be adopted for other non-western traditions. It exposes selected musical elements and idioms of Ikorodo traditional ensemble to the world of composers. The composition adds to the repertoire of art music and is therefore envisaged to foster creativity in not only students studying composition but art composers who use traditional elements in reconstructing their imaginative ideas in music creativity.