Fred
Onovwerosuoke ("FredO")
(Last
name pronounced, 'oh-noh-well-oh-suoh-keh)
Composer, Conductor,
Musicologist, Cross-Cultural Educator
Works
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MP3 Samples
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Representation
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Review
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FredO's
Works in Concert
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Discography |
FredO News on the Web|
Onovwerosuoke's
rhythmic language would be worthy of analysis by students of the long process by
which a common African-American language, musical and verbal, evolved out of the
multiplicity of cultures of the enslaved. The overall effect is kinetic,
colorful, and imposing — any symphonic programmer looking for music that will
meet urban constituencies halfway should hear this disc. - (James
Manheim AllMusic.com critic)
Fred Onovwerosuoke's brief "Fanfare for Strings and Timpani," in its world
premiere, was a rousing evocation of a Nigerian war dance, complete with the
clanging of machetes -- fortunately only simulated. (John
von Rhein -
Chicago Tribune music critic)
Born 1960 at Secondi-Takoradi in
Ghana, Fred Okorefe Kwaku Onovwerosuoke's musical vocation began early as
choir-boy and by 1992 he was performing with the Pieces of Eight, a St.
Louis-based a cappella jazz octet in the United States. Although at 7 he and his
baby brother Benjamin Otarodafirua Kofi (1962-1974) would invite their friends
for weekend soirees of popular radio jingles accompanied on discarded
cooking-pots and bamboo whistles, it was not evident to his parents that he had
any musical promise. His late father wanted him to be a medical doctor or an
engineer, a dream that FredO eventually fulfilled by earning a degree in
Electrical and Electronic Engineering. But it was not entirely his dream,
because later "I ended up acquiring a doctorate in interdisciplinary arts and
sciences among other things to enable me document my work in the fields of music
and multicultural education." Musical activities have been a mainstay in all his
endeavors. At 11 FredO was said to sneak into the local church to practice on
the organ, "because we children were bared from fooling around with the
instrument." He taught himself to play piano and violin, and paid his way
through university giving piano and voice lessons. He was always fascinated by
the music of the Hausas, Foulas and Dagombas he encountered in northwestern
Africa, and spent countless hours playing with them - comparing their
kora,
gonje and
kontingu
tunes on his violin, or
balafon
riffs on piano. FredO remains awed by his first encounters with the advanced
vocal traditions of the Forest and Sand peoples of central and north-southern
African regions of Africa, and remains a loyal student of these cultural
practices. The sounds of the
agogo
bells and isologu
thumb pianos he heard among the Urhobos, his father's people, deeply affected
him like the atumpan
and dundun
talking drums he fell in love with among the Akans and Yorubas. By 1984 when
FredO was invited to conduct the prestigious Terra Choral Group & Chamber
Orchestra (then the premier musical organization at the University of Ife,
Ile-Ife, Nigeria), he had already distinguished himself as accompanist, choral
conductor and shown some promise as a composer. His descants and improvisations
to hymn tunes were much sought and favored by his choristers. In the days when
orchestra parts were not readily available, FredO would pore through scores to
extract parts for his chamber ensemble at Terra. Where he could not afford to
photocopy musical pieces that he adored, FredO was said to hand-copy entire
works by Palestrina, Bryd, Handel, Bach, Hadyn, Mozart, to mention a few - a
practice he's maintained for, as he puts it, "By hand-copying scores I'm able to
invite myself into a composer's sanctum..." His favorite composers range from
Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Mozart, Tallis to Korsakov, Barber, Bartok, Ives and
Stravinsky. FredO gratefully acknowledges the mentoring influences of Sam
Anyanele (his high school music teacher) and Jim Dowcett (his music theory and
20th Century techniques professor at Principia College). He also maintains that
he is a perennial student of the musical exponents and bards with whom he's
enjoyed association in over 30 African countries. "I see hidden across Africa a
gold-mine of unlimited musical scales and modes, melodic and harmonic
traditions, and, yes, rhythms - abundant yet largely untapped." His devotion to
the works of J.H. Kwabena Nketia is now well known. Through it all, FredO
maintains that, "my compositions are informed by my travels around the world,
and each piece is harnessed and nurtured by an African sensibility that is
unmistakable and genuine." His recent credits include the Lingala chant,
Bolingo
(Ofrenda da Amor) in Robert De Niro's film,
The Good Shepherd
(Universal Pictures). His recent commissions
include Landscapes
of Africa: A Tone Poem for solo alto
flute, soprano flute, piccolo and orchestra (Commissioned by the Brannen Cooper
Brothers Fund),
Tribute to Great African Composers No. 1
for orchestra and SATB Choir (Commissioned by Emeritus Professor J. H. Kwabena
Nketia for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Winneba Youth Choir of
Ghana), the
Meditation for Darfur for string
orchestra, harp, percussion and mezzo soprano (commissioned by the Ensemble du
Monde of New York, from the earlier version for treble
choir commissioned for the Boys Choir of Kenya and the Winneba Youth Choir of
Ghana). Fred Onovwerosuoke serves on several boards and is a
voting member of The Recording Academy and other professional bodies. He is
editor of the Voice of African Music (a quarterly newsletter on African music),
a founding trustee of the International Consortium for Music of African & its
Diaspora (ICMAD). Mr. Onovwerosuoke maintains an
active schedule as conductor, lecturer, cross-cultural educator, and
composer-in-residence. Email inquiries may be sent to
slac@africanchorus.org.
FredO's significant compositional output:
Works for Orchestra and Chamber Groups
Six and Half Variations for Violin and Piano (2008)
Instrumentation: Violin and piano
Audio Rendition: (MP3/CD Audio available)
Performance Time: 10:00 minutes
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code Pending (unpublished)
Sonata for Two Pianos No. 3 (2008)
Commissioned by William C. Nyaho for the NYAHO/GARCIA DUO
Instrumentation: Two pianos
Audio Rendition: (MP3/CD Audio available)
Performance Time: 16:30 minutes
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code Pending (unpublished)
Meditation for Darfur (with Mezzo-soprano 2008)
for String Orchestra, Percussion, Harp and Mezzo-Soprano
Commissioned by the Ensemble Du Monde, New York
Audio Rendition: (Marlon Daniel conducts Ensemble Du Monde)
Instrumentation: Strings VI to CB/ 7Timpani
Availability: Score and parts rental
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code 432460698
(Performance Time: 8 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-07-3
ISBN-10: 1-934621-07-2
Landscapes of Africa:
A Tone Poem
for Solo Soprano Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo and
Orchestra
Commissioned by Brannen-Cooper in association with the
US National Flute Association
Instrumentation: PSolo Picc, Alt,
Sop/3Fl/2BbCl/2Bs/4HrnF/5Trpt/5Tbn & Tba/10Timp.(2pl)
4Perc /2Hrp/1Vib/Str. VI to CB
Audio Rendition: New Horizons Studio Orchestra
Wendy Hymes, Soloist.
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Performance Time: 14 minutes
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
Pending
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-25-7
ISBN-10: 1-934621-25-0
TRIBUTE TO GREAT
AFRICAN COMPOSERS NO. 1
for Orchestra and SATB Choir
i. Rhapsody on
Nketia's "Republic Suite"
Commissioned by Emrt. Prof. J.H. Kwabena Nketia, on the
occasion of Ghana-At-50 Jubilee Celebrations.
Instrumentation:
Picc/3Fl/2BbCl/2Bs/4HrnF/4BbTrpt/4Tbn/6Timp.
GABbCDGA/BD/3Perc /Str. VI to CB
Audio Rendition: The New Horizons Studio
Orchestra & the Winneba Youth Choir of Ghana (MP3/CD
Audio available)
(MP3/CD Audio available: Excerpt of Movts I-III)
Performance Time: 6:30 minutes
approx.
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code:361827114
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-10-3
ISBN-10: 1-934621-10-2
ii. Lullaby to
Ikoli Harcourt-Whyte
Instrumentation:
2Fl/2BbCl/2Bs/2HrnF/1BbTrpt/Timp. /Str. VI to CB
Audio Rendition: New Horizons Studio
Orchestra conducted by Fred Onovwerosuoke
(MP3/CD Audio available: Excerpt of Movts I-III)
Performance Time: 5:30 minutes
approx.
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code:
Pending
iii.
Tribute to Dr. Ephraim Amu
Commissioned
for the Ghana
National Symphony Orchestra on the occasion of
Ghana-At-50 Jubilee Celebrations.
Instrumentation:
Picc/2Fl/2BbCl/2Bs/4HrnF/4BbTrpt/4Tbn/5Timp.
GACDG/BD/Cymb/Xyl/Str VI to CB
Audio Rendition: The New Horizons Studio
Orchestra & the Winneba Youth Choir of Ghana (MP3/CD
Audio available)
(MP3/CD Audio available: Excerpt of Movts I-III)
Performance Time: 7 minutes approx.
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
Pending
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-06-6
ISBN-10: 1-934621-06-4
WARRIORS DANCE FOR ORCHESTRA(2007)
(Fanfare for Orchestra)
Availability: Score and parts rental
Audio Rendition: The New Horizons Studio
Orchestra
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Instrumentation:
Picc/3Fl/2BbCl/2Bs/4HrnF/4BbTrpt/4Tbn/6Timp.
GABbCDGA/BD/3Perc /Str. VI to CB
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
361755335
(Performance
Time: 5:10 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-05-9
ISBN-10: 1-934621-05-6
WARRIORS DANCE FOR
STRING ORCHESTRA (2007)
(Fanfare for Strings & Percussion)
Availability: Score and parts rental
Audio Rendition: The New Horizons Studio
Orchestra (MP3/CD Audio available)
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
361755335
Instrumentation: Strings VI to CB/ 6Timp.(2
pl) GABbCDGA/3Perc
(Performance Time: 4:10 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-11-0
ISBN-10: 1-934621-11-0
Suite for String
Orchestra No. 1 (1987-2007)
Availability: Sheet music and parts rental
Audio Rendition: The New Horizons Studio
Orchestra (MP3/CD Audio available)
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
494292718
i.
Beethoven Returns to Africa
ii. Yarinya
(Maiden)
iii.
Dance Tribute (with piano obbligato)
(Performance Time: 12 minutes)
Instrumentation: Strings VI to CB
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-03-5
ISBN-10: 1-934621-03-X
Suite for String
Orchestra No. 2 (2006)
Audio
Rendition: The New Horizons Studio Orchestra
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Availability: Score and parts rental
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
494292692
i. Ogiribo
(The Storm)
ii. Domenshigbe
(At the Market)
iii.
Barka (Greetings/Goodwill)
iv. Ukere (Warriors' Dance)
(Performance Time: 15 minutes)
Instrumentation: Strings VI to CB
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-04-2
ISBN-10: 1-934621-04-8
Suite for Orchestra
No. 3 (2007)
Audio
Rendition: The New Horizons Studio Orchestra
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Availability: Score and parts rental
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
Pending
i. Fanfare
ii. Incantation
iii. Zambezi River Dance
(Performance Time: 18 minutes)
Instrumentation: Chamber orchestra
(1Pc/2Flt/1Ob or CorA/1Bs/1CBs/
2Hn/2Tpt/3Tbn/1Pc/piano/Strings VI-CB)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-04-2
ISBN-10: 1-934621-04-8
Meditation for Darfur
(2006)
for String
Orchestra and Percussion
with Harp Obbligato
Audio
Rendition:
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Instrumentation: Strings VI to CB/
7Timp.(2 pl)
Availability: Score and parts rental
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
432460698
(Performance Time: 7 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-07-3
ISBN-10: 1-934621-07-2
Dance Tribute for Orchestra (1988, ed. 2007)
with Piano
Obbligato
Availability: Score and parts rental
Audio Rendition: Fred Onovwerosuoke
(Piano reduction)
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
494292718
(Performance Time: 4.10minutes)
Instrumentation: Picc/2Fl/2BbCl/2Bs/2HrnF/2BbTrpt/4Tbn/5Timp.
GABbCDGA/BD/3Perc /Str. VI to CB
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-02-8
ISBN-10: 1-934621-02-1
Three Pieces for
Flute and Piano (1988-1991)
Availability: Sheet music and parts
Audio Rendition: Wendy Hymes (Flute),
Darryl Hollister (piano),
David Kosutic (piano), Gerald Cozart (Narrator) MP3/CD
Audio available
Also recorded on the CD
African Art Music for Flute by flutist Wendy
Hymes and pianist Darry Hollister
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
503608037
i.
Ayevwiomo (Mother begets)
ii.
Iroro (Reminiscences) with alto flute
iii.
Just Before Dawn with narrator
(Performance Time: 12 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-09-7
ISBN-10: 1-934621-09-9
Five Sketches for Flute, Violin and Piano (2006)
Availability: Score and parts rental
Audio Rendition: Not yet available
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
361698175
(Performance Time: 15 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-08-0
ISBN-10: 1-934621-08-0
Twenty-Four Studies
in African Rhythms - Vol. 1
(1987-2007)
Audio
Rendition: Available by order only
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
361755337
ISBN
978-1-934621-22-6
(MOST REQUESTED TITLE!)
i.
Okoye (Edo / Baganda idioms) ii. Edo (Edo /
Mandinka idioms)
iii. Udje (Urhobo / Dagomba idioms) iv. Tunis (Tuareg /
Bambera idioms)
v. Jali (Mandinka / Malinke/Tigre idioms) vi. Iroro
(Urhobo / Igbo / Yoruba idioms)
vii. Herero Wedding Dance (Herero / Tigre idioms)
viii. Ayevwiomo Dance 1 (Urhobo / Ewe idioms)
ix. Ayevwiomo Dance 2 (Urhobo / Grebo idioms) x. Barka
(Burkinabe / Pular idioms)
xi. Ayevwiomo Dance 3 (Urhobo / Akan idioms) xii.
Agbadza (Ewe / Fon idioms) |
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African Highlife Mass
for SATB Choir, Soloist and Pop-Band (2006)
Availability: Vocal score
with piano accompaniment through Earthsongs.
Band parts and practice CD through the St. Louis African Chorus
Audio Rendition: Choir of Trinity Presbyterian Church,
City-Wide University Chorale and St. Louis African Chorus
conducted by Paul Vasile and Christopher Taylor
Kyrie | Gloria | Acclamation | Credo | Sanctus | Agnus Dei
(MP3/CD Audio available)
Licensing: ASCAP Title Code
312285499
(Performance Time: 28 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-23-3
ISBN-10: 1-934621-23-4
THREE AFRICAN SONGS FOR SATB CHOIR (2006)
i. Oluwa L'Oluso Agutan Mi (Psalm 23)
with piano or organ accompaniment
ii. Barka (Blessings/Goodwill)
with piano accompaniment
iii. Chant for Peace
with piano, Double Bass and Conga Drums
Availability:
Vocal score with piano accompaniment
Audio Rendition: (MP3/CD Audio available)
(Performance Time: 15 minutes)
ISBN-13: 978-1-934621-24-0
ISBN-10: 1-934621-24-0
Selected (most requested) Choral
titles
African
Highlife Mass for SATB Choir, Soloist and Piano
(sung in English)
Awa Eshelele Akan Chant for SATB or
TTBB Choir
Chechere! Akan Vocalize for SSAA Choir
and Percussion
Chedo
Kanamayo
Madinka Chant for SSAA Choir and Percussion
Efuo,
Urhobo "Igbe" Chant for Mixed Voices and Percussion
Ibaje,
Yoruba Meditation for A Cappella Female or Mixed voices
Matshitshi
Quomani,
6 Zulu/Xhosa Playsongs for SATB Choir
Mayingo,
Fang Chant for Mixed Voices
Oluwa
l’Oluso Aguntan Mi,
Yoruba Meditation on
Psalm 23 for SATB Choir
and Organ (Ayodele
Arr. Onovwerosuoke)
Om"Oba Ni,
Yoruba
Royal
Processional for Mixed Voices
(Ayodele Arr. Onovwerosuoke)
Omome Chiy’o Dedede, Urhobo Initiation Chant for Female/Mixed
Voices and Maracas
Otu
B’Oma,
Igbo Folk Tune for SATB Choir and Percussion
Pata-Pata,
Zulu/Xhosa Folk Song for SATB Choir and
Percussion
Une
R’Emakashe,
Urhobo Carol for SATB or TTBB Choir,
Percussion and Dancers
Wazobia,
Nigerian (multi-lingual) Satire for SATB Choir
and Percussion
Yamoriji,
Meditation Chant of the Fang "Forest" People, for Female or Mixed Voices
Yesu
Sore
Akan/Fante Spiritual for SATB Choir and
Percussion
Yoyoma O!
Ijaw/Itsekiri Funereal Chant for Mixed Voices and percussion
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Conductor:
FOR NORTH AMERICA,
CARIBBEAN, SOUTH AMERICA
Ablawa Reine
Artistic Assistant & Cultural Exchange Consultant
African Chorus Inc
2405 Belmont Place,
Metairie, LA 70001
Tel: +1
314 431 5225
e-mail:
info@africanchorus.org
http://africanchorus.org/Voam/amp.html
FOR EUROPE, ASIA AND AUSTRALIA
Mike S. Wright
International Society - African to American Music
Tel: +44
1483 536689
mike@isaamnet.org
Publisher:
African Music Publishers
3547 Olive Street, Suite 110
St. Louis, MO 63103
Tel: +1 314 652 6800
Email:
amp@africanchorus.org
Artist Representative:
New Horizons Studio Orchestra
3547 Olive Street, Suite 110
St. Louis, MO 63103
nhso@africanchorus.org
Publicist:
Elzena Johnson
3547 Olive
Street, Suite 110
St. Louis, MO 63103
voam@africanchorus.org
FredO's Works in
Concert
2007/2008
(updated regularly)
Remember Darfur...
See the YouTube Video
Date: September 25-26, 2008
Work: Twenty-Four Studies in African Rhythms
Performer: Silvia Belfiore (piano). Alessandria, Italy.
Date: April 19, 2008
Work: Selections from the OUP Collection, "Songs of Africa"
and the Ancestral Spirits of the Congo concert
West Plains, Missouri
Date: April 5, 2008
Work: Twenty-Four Studies in African Rhythms (selected Studies)
Performer: Silvia Belfiore (piano). Arezzo, Italy. "In Concert:
The Music of Cage, Berio, Onovwerosuoke, Scelsi, Sollima and
Stockhausen"
Date: March 28-April 10, 2008
Work: Selections from the OUP Collection, "Songs of Africa,"
selections from the African Highlife Mass as well
as Ithe new
commission, "Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit" for SATB Choir
and Piano
Performer: Singapore American Schools Choir, Singapore.
http://www.sas.edu.sg/whatshappening/2008/pdf/20080320_MusicFestival.pdf
Date: March 14, 2008
Work: Meditation for Darfur for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano
Performer: Dawn Padmore (soprano), NHSO CD track
Princeton University, Princeton, PA.
Date: March 1, 2008
Work: Three Pieces for Flute and Piano
Performer: Wendy Hymes (flute), Jure Rozeman (piano)
College Music Society conference,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Date: February 28, 2008
Work: Meditation for Darfur for Mezzo-Soprano and Orchestra
Performer: Dawn Padmore (soprano), NHSO CD track
Black History Concert, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Date: February 27, 2008
CD Release, African Art Music
for Flute (AGCD 2081)
Works: Three Pieces for Flute and Piano
Performers: Wendy Hymes (flute), Darryl Hollister (piano)
Date: February 27, 2008
Work: Five Sketches for Flute, Violin and Piano and other pieces
Performer: LSU Faculty Concert - Wendy Hymes (flute), Borislava Itcheva
(violin), Willis Delony (piano).
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Cancelled)
Date: January 26, 2008
Work: Meditation for Darfur for Orchestra and Mezzo-Soprano
Performer: Ensemble du Monde, New York, conducted by Maestro Marlon
Daniel. Lori-Kaye Miller, mezzo-soprano
http://www.kaufman-center.org/tc/0708/edm_012608.php
Date: December
3-7, 2007
Africa Sings...at Cedar Rapids, Iowa!
Work: selected choral pieces, including choir
favorites "Abanije," "Pata-Pata," "Diba Dia Mshila," "Anigye Aba"
http://www.kirkwood.cc.ia.us/site/index.php?d=633&news_id=1094
Date: October 29, 2007
Work: Fanfare for Strings and
Timpani
Performer: Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago, conducted by
Maestro Paul Freeman.
http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org/concerts/0708/07oct.html
Date September 1, 2007
Work: Landscapes of Africa: Music for Orchestra (a demo CD)
New CD Release: New Horizons Studio Orchestra (combined live
musicians and digitized audio).
http://cdbaby.com/cd/nhso1 /
Review
Date: August 15-22, 2007
Works: Five Sketches for Flute, Violin and Piano
Performers: Wendy Hymes (flute), Rachel Barton Pine
(violin), George Francois (piano).
Venues: La Palm Royal Foyer, Accra Ghana (Aug 16); British Council
Auditorium, Accra, Ghana (Aug 17); National Theatre, Accra, Ghana (Aug
19); Command Performance for Ghana's President John Kufuor (Aug 21)
Date: August 15-22, 2007
Works: Tribute to Great African Composers, No. 1 for Orchestra and SATB
Choir (Movt I - Nketia's Rhapsody and Movt II - Amu's Tribute); Dance
Tribute for Orchestra with Piano Obbligato
Performers: Ghana National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Isaac Annoh
and Ato Quayson. George Francois, piano
Date: July 15, 2007
African
Art Music Series
Works: Five Sketches for Flute, Violin and Piano
Performers: Wendy Hymes (flute), Lindsay Garritson
(violin), Marie Jureit (piano). Jureit Concert Series, Stewart, FL.
Date: July 5, 2007
CD Release, Landscapes of
Africa: Music for Orchestra (AGCD 2071)
Works: Suites No. 1 & 2 for Orchestra and other works
Performers: New Horizons Studio
Orchestra (Live musicians and audio engineers) directed by Fred
Onovwerosuoke
Date: May 11, 2007
African
Art Music Series
Works: Five Sketches for Flute, Violin and Piano
Performers: Wendy Hymes (flute), Lindsay Garritson
(violin), Marie Jureit (piano). Music-at-Davis Concerts, Principia
College, Elsah, IL
Date: February 25-26, 2007
African
Art Music Series
Works: Three Pieces for Flute and Piano
Performers: Wendy Hymes (flute), Darryl Hollister
(piano)
New Orleans, Louisiana. (A recording session)
Remember Darfur...
The YouTube Video |
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