J. H. Kwabena Nketia
Encyclopedia
Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia (b. Mampong
, Sekyere West District
, Ashanti Region
, Ghana
, June 22, 1921) is a Ghanaian ethnomusicologist
and composer
.
He studied at the University of London
from 1944 to 1949, beginning with two years of study in linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies
. In 1949 he began three years' study at Birkbeck College
, University of London
, and Trinity College of Music
, London, obtaining a B.A. degree. In 1958 a Rockefeller Fellowship allowed him to come to the United States, where he attended Columbia University
(studying with Henry Cowell
), the Juilliard School
, and Northwestern University
, studying musicology and composition. He is an emeritus professor of music at the University of Ghana
, where he began teaching in 1952. He currently directs the International Centre for African Music and Dance (ICAMD).
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, he introduced the use of the more readable 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 debate, Nketia pointed out that the constant use of triplets in a duple time signature was misleading. Today, many scholars have found Nketia’s theory very useful in transcribing African music.
He has composed for both Western and African instruments.
Mampong
Mampong is a town in Ghana. It is found in the Ashanti Region in Ghana, and serves as the administrative capital of Sekyere West District.It is also the home of the Mampong Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine. The center conducts research in the use of plant medicine in the cure of...
, Sekyere West District
Sekyere West District
The Mampong Municipal District, formerly the Sekyere West District is a district of Ghana in the Ashanti Region.-Sources:*...
, Ashanti Region
Ashanti Region
The Ashanti Region is the third largest of 10 administrative regions in Ghana, occupying a total land surface of 24389 square kilometers or 10.2 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, however, it is the most populated region with a population of 3,612,950 in 2000,...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, June 22, 1921) is a Ghanaian ethnomusicologist
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
He studied at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
from 1944 to 1949, beginning with two years of study in linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
. In 1949 he began three years' study at Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
, London, obtaining a B.A. degree. In 1958 a Rockefeller Fellowship allowed him to come to the United States, where he attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(studying with Henry Cowell
Henry Cowell
Henry Cowell was an American composer, music theorist, pianist, teacher, publisher, and impresario. His contribution to the world of music was summed up by Virgil Thomson, writing in the early 1950s:...
), the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, studying musicology and composition. He is an emeritus professor of music at the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
, where he began teaching in 1952. He currently directs the International Centre for African Music and Dance (ICAMD).
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, he introduced the use of the more readable 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
Ephraim Amu
Ephraim Kɔku Amu was a Ghanaian composer, musicologist and teacher.-Early life and education:A male child was born on Wednesday 13 September 1899 at Peki-Avetile also called Abenase in the Peki traditional area of the Volta Region . As a Ghanaian born on a Wednesday, he was called...
. Although this practice undermined Amu’s theory of a constant basic rhythm (or pulse) in African music, and generated debate, Nketia pointed out that the constant use of triplets in a duple time signature was misleading. Today, many scholars have found Nketia’s theory very useful in transcribing African music.
He has composed for both Western and African instruments.
Books
- 1963 - African Music in Ghana Northwestern University Press
- 1974 - The Music of Africa. W. W. Norton. ISBN 0393021777. ISBN 9780393021776.
- 2004 - African Art Music/The Creative Potential of African Art Music in Ghana. Companion booklet to ICAMD CD recordings (ICAMD - DMVI - ICAMD - DMV4). Accra: Afram Publications (Ghana) Ltd.