NANAKRHYTHMS

 Today, not much is considered by most musical performances adjudicators during competitions other than to select the best groups and dismiss all other entrants into the competition with a wave of hand. Choirs mount platforms to compete each other; but in the end, the judgement is not fair. Music awards are also organized and contestants win by their fame and popularity, instead of their technical capabilities. I am much impressed about the rate at which institutions and individuals have established performance platforms to reward deserving performers in our country today. However, I was shocked when, in one of our popular and ancient reality shows, a contestant from the Western region, of Ghana, was retained in the contest, because there was money home, and people were just voting. After the contest, the contestant who was passed did nothing musical in life while the contested who felt cheated recorded an album. Where is our sense of ‘music adjudication’? On ou

Many Christian singers say they minister and they don’t perform. As a scholar in the arts, I take it as a layman’s view, whenever I hear such statements. People think when we say ‘to perform’ we are singing a secular song or dancing to a secular music; this thought is wrong. I will like to examine this ‘problem’ and provide a remedy. Before we conclude, let’s look

 What does the Bible mean when it talks about “ministry”; and the fact that Christians are to participate in “ministry works”?

  From the very beginnings of history, singing has been integral to worship in the Judaeo-Christian tradition, and from the earliest times, part of the Christian life, with references to Jesus (Mark 14.26) and the early Church “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5.19).

According to a study on ‘Temple Architecture’, a temple or church must be well designed to contain the church choir and other singing groups so that these ministers of music will be able to perform their duties very well.   According to the study, the designated areas to position the church choir is Choir Loft and the Retro-Choir .

There are many instances of hymn singing mentioned in the Bible; at large, it contains over 400 references to singing and 50 direct commands to sing. We're commanded twice in the New Testament to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs ( Ephesians 5:19 ; Colossians 3:16 ). The singing of hymns has always been a part of the Christian tradition since the earliest days of the Church. In fact, early on, Christians were

  Music is considered in the planning of events, such as parties, weddings, funerals, and any other event that may need music. Music is considered because it is usually known that it will enhance the event. In the same way, it’s worth thinking about the benefits that music can bring to labour and birth and the ways in which it can help you on your big day. Music is an important part of the labour experience for many women. Listening to it really helps them get through labour.

  In 2016, the complete original manuscript of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor was sold at auction in London for US $5.68 Million – the highest price ever paid for a musical score. (you can read more on it here by following this link:  https://theviolinchannel.com/mahler-manuscript-symphony-2-record-auction-sothebys/ ) . On the other hand, ‘supposed’ musicians in ‘our part of the world’ find it problematic for their colleague musicians – composers – to sell their music sheets.

Today, almost all churches have employed musicians to provide music for their Christian worship services.   These musicians are either members of sister churches or members of the same church that employed them. The experiences and the qualifications

The ‘headache’ of choristers not attending practice regularly but robing for Sunday services has pushed most choir directors to adopt a ‘No Practice No Robing’ principle as the best cure. But is this the actual solution’? Most choir directors have adopted this principle to ensure that choristers attend practice before they can robe on Sundays. By this, you need to be present on (at least) the last practice day preceding the Sunday you want to robe.

STREET RHYTHMS 01-03-2017 *CREATE NO ROOM TO BE CONDEMNED* Most choristers are discouraged in performing their duties due to the manner at which they sometimes confronted on issues by their leaders. It is advised that choir leaders adopt approaches which will not end up discouraging their members. However, choristers have a great role to play to avoid a lot of these soo-called ‘condemnations’ that turn to discourage them.

STREET RHYTHMS 27-02-2018   *THE CONDEMNATION* Many a times, people condemn before seeking explanations. Some of the approaches used to even seek information from members seem to condemn them. Many choir leaders today, get ‘mad’ at their choristers who don’t attend choir practices and events, without finding out what the cause is; this really discourages choristers.

STREET RHYTHMS 24-02-2017 *OUR TYPES OF ROBES* As it is done in other parts of the world, most choirs also use choir robes as their official uniform for what we may call divine/full services in our Ghanaian churches. There two basic types of robes used; the British and American Styles.

                                                                            STREET RHYTHMS                                                                             22-02-2017                                                                            *THE AGBADA CHOIR ROBES* Agbada is one of the names for a flowing wide sleeved robe worn by men in much of West Africa. Agbada is usually a four-piece male attire found among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. It consists of a large, free-flowing outer robe (awosoke ), an undervest (awotele), a pair of long trousers (sokoto), and a hat (fìla). The outer robe—from which the entire outfit derives the name agbada, meaning "voluminous attire"—is a big, loose-fitting, ankle-length garment. The common designs found on the Agbada is jolomi.

Most of our choirs use choir robes as their uniform for every divine or full service. These robes are either sewn in the American robe style (the academic gown/single gown style) or the British robe style (the cassock & surplice style). Some choristers are always found robing and disrobing outside the vestry; this practice is not good.

STREET RHYTHMS 17-02-2017 *BARITONE* Many people refer a male solo in a choral piece as baritone; this is wrong.

                                                                           Who can tell the pleasure , when music hits you and sends you far away to the land of ecs t asy? Who can recount that treasure? Presumably, No one. Duke Orsino once said that “if music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.” (From Shakespeare's Twelfth Night , 1602:) What does this mean? Orsino is asking for more music because he is frustrated in his courtship of Countess

A chant is a simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one pitch. It is a repetitive song in which as many syllables as necessary are assigned to a single tone. To chant is to speak or sing rhythmically, in words or sounds.

STREET RHYTHMS 06-02-2017 *MISMATCH OF MUSIC* Many a times, choirs sing the 'nice music' at occasions and you (if you really understand music) will realize that the song, though nice, has nothing to relate to with the occasion. One possible cause is that some choir leaders don't find the meanings of song text (especially, in languages they don't understand) before teaching them.

 INTRODUCTION: Many Christians are well used to having a choir sing in their church services and today, the singing of a choir has been a fixture of the worship in many churches; this is understandable as choirs feature in the Bible’s own description of divine worship. Their singing complements the spoken word of God that is given by the clergy. The role of the clergy is widely known; what about the role of the church choir; and where can they be positioned in the church to play their role very well? All churches have designated sitting places for their choirs in the temple; but which part of the temple should be the best place for the choir in other to perform their role very effectively? This is the problem that was examined.

During one evening performance, it was 'itchy', when the chorister standing in front of me killed a mosquito, with his hands. This was a chorister standing right under the microphone; imagine what the outcome was. Now, the congregation was stretching necks, looking for the mosquito killer.