In this book, he constructs a soundscape of the northern ewe people of ghana which demonstrates the pervasiveness of a variety of forms of rhythmic expression. Professor kofi agawu guest lecture, wednesday april 10th. Music as discourse kofi agawu oxford university press. Kofi agawu s music as discourse has become a standard and definitive work in musical semiotics. The first movement of beethovens opus 2 and the classical style the works of beethovens last period, the years 1827 broadly defined, have come to occupy a special place in the history of western music.
Professor kofi agawu delivers keynote lecture at city. Martin scherzinger kofi agawus new book representing african music. After nketia and bebey, luminary african scholars such as akin euba, joshua uzoigwe, kofi agawu, lazarus ekwueme, meki nzewi, mwesa mapoma, and. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. The question of whether music has meaning has been the subject of sustained debate ever since music became a subject of academic inquiry. Kofi annan was born in kumasi, gold coast now ghana on 8 april 1938. Concerts from the library of congress 20162017 listings. While performing practice and audience participation vary according to genre, the activity of meaning construction remains essential to all participants. In the african imagination in music, renowned music scholar kofi agawu offers an introduction to the major dimensions of this music and the values upon which it rests. Representing african music free download as pdf file.
Awoonor earned a ba from university college of ghana, an ma from university college, london, and a phd in. He offers an alternative afrocentric means of understanding african music, and in doing so, illuminates a different mode of creativity beyond the usual provenance of western criticism. Just when theorists and analysts in america succeed in. Martin scherzinger kofi agawu s new book representing african music. Kofi agawu in so far as they constitute complex messages rooted in specific cultural practices, the varieties of african music known to us today may be designated as text. Mar 09, 2020 kofi awoonor, ghanaian novelist and poet whose verse has been widely translated and anthologized. Agawu leads his readers through an exploration of the traditions, structural elements. After graduating 1960 from the university college of the gold coast now the university of ghana, legon, awoonor studied at university college, london m. Apr 08, 20 we are thrilled to welcome professor kofi agawu princeton university to city university london this wednesday, 10th april, to give a paper entitled the minimalist impulse in african musical creativity. The first movement of beethovens opus 2 and the classical. We are thrilled to welcome professor kofi agawu princeton university to city university london this wednesday, 10th april, to give a paper entitled the minimalist impulse in african musical creativity. Postcolonial notes, queries, positions new york and london. Professor kofi agawu delivers keynote lecture at city music. By kofi agawu inventing african rhythm the notion that the distinctive quality of african music lies in its rhythmic structure, and consequently that the terms aftican music and african rhythm are often interchangeable, has been so persistently thematized in writings about african music that it has by now assumed.
What does music mean, and how does this meaning occur. Kofi agawu cuny policy the city university of new york. Professor kofi agawu delivers a guest lecture as part of the research colloquia at city university music department. Kofi agawu is the author of representing african music 3. Kofi agawu was born in ghana, where he received his initial education before studying composition and analysis in the uk and musicology in the us. He specializes in musical semiotics and ethnomusicology. This interview, conducted at the university of ghana, legon, january 2002, straddles the discourse of music, musicology and the production of culture and knowledge in africa, in this characteristic agawu rupture of normative paradigms. Bernardo atxaga obabakoak pdf obabakoak is a short story collection by the basque writer bernardo atxaga. The invention of african rhythm by kofi agawu inventing african rhythm the notion that the distinctive quality of african music lies in its rhythmic structure, and consequently that the terms aftican music and african rhythm are often interchangeable, has been so persistently thematized in writings about african music that it has by now assumed the status of a commonplace, a topos. The title can be translated as individuals and things of obaba.
In this chapter, kofi agawu challenges the concept of african rhythm traditionally promoted by scholars. Nov 27, 2017 20171127 since its founding, achimota college and school as it was named at the time of its inception, has had a disproportionate influence on the creative arts in ghana. Mar 20, 2017 two honorary degrees were awarded during the march 2017 graduation. The african imagination in music hardcover kofi agawu. They are thought to contain some of the most profound utterances of their composer, or for that matter, any composer. Likewise, reflective and introspective moments in film often align with important plot points. Joseph kerman, professor of music at a state university in california, and a leading voice in musicology, publishes how we got into analysis, and how to get out. Even the term african music suggests there is an agreedupon meaning, but african music signifies differently to different people. Aug 19, 20 professor kofi agawu delivers a guest lecture as part of the research colloquia at city university music department. Kofi agawu, a scholar whose research and writing span musical traditions from gustav mahler to the ewe people of ghana, has been appointed professor of music and african and africanamerican studies in harvard universitys faculty of arts and sciences, effective july 1. In the african imagination in music, renowned music scholar kofi agawu offers an introduction to the major dimensions of this.
Kofi awoonor was born george awoonorwilliams in wheta, ghana, to ewe parents. Kofi agawu, musical scholar, appointed professor harvard. Kofi agawu or more often simply as kofi agawu, is a music scholar from the volta region of ghana. Agawu, the invention of african rhythm posted on october 22, 2012 by ghostguessed in his chapter on the concept of african rhythm, victor kofi agawu explores the longstanding ethnomusicological concept of african music, which is defined by complex and culturally significant rhythms.
Feb 23, 2012 in this chapter, kofi agawu challenges the concept of african rhythm traditionally promoted by scholars. Pdf on jan 1, 2009, akosua obuo addo and others published a contemporary study of musical arts. Professor agawu is one of the leading scholars working on african music, and has published extensively. Theory and practice in the analysis of the nineteenth. Kofi awoonor ahwewnohr is an accomplished writer in a range of genres. Under such circumstances, kofi agawus african rhythm. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Prof kofi agawu was awarded doctor of philosophy phd, honoris causa. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. D, professor of music, princeton university worldrenowned musicologist kofi agawu discusses subsaharan african music, which incorporates a diverse body of repertoires and traditions, and its role as the backbone of africas musical thinking. From scattered comments in the accounts of explorers of the socalled afrique noire to the fullfledged ethnomusicological studies of the last fifty years, the constant theme has been the.
Kofi agawu and the critique of cultural difference agawu, kofi. What assumptions and prejudices influence the presentation of ethnographic data. Kofi agawu he music of africa has long intrigued many westerners. The best books of the book draws on examples from works by mozart, haydn, and beethoven to show that the explicitly referential, even theatrical, surface of classic music derives from a play with signs. Conceived as an introduction to a vast, immensely rich and diverse set of repertories, this book explores the sounding forms of sub. The african imagination in music by kofi agawu, paperback.
The aim of this book is to stimulate debate by offering a critique of discourse about african music. Agawu leads his readers through an exploration of the traditions, structural elements, instruments, and. Kofi agawu is professor of music at princeton university and adjunct professor at the university of ghana, legon. In the african imagination in music, renowned music scholar kofi agawu offers an introduction to the major dimensions of this music and the values upon which it. Pdf dipsticking the study of african indigenous music. He has shown a lifelong interest in the oral poetry of his ewespeaking anlo people and acted as translator of this. He has shown a lifelong interest in the oral poetry of his ewespeaking. Awoonor earned a ba from university college of ghana, an ma from university college, london, and a phd in comparative literature from suny stony brook. Routledge, 2003, isbn 0415943892 hb, 01415943906 pb volume 2 issue 1 angela impey. The aim of this book is to stimulate debate by offering a criti. Analyzing music under the new musicological regime authors. Kofi awoonor, original name george kofi awoonor williams, born march, 1935, weta, gold coast now ghanadied september 21, 20, nairobi, kenya, ghanaian novelist and poet whose verse has been widely translated and anthologized after graduating 1960 from the university college of the gold coast now the university of ghana, legon, awoonor studied at.
The greater danger lies in denying that politics plays a role in the construction of knowledge about african music kofi agawu, from representing african music 2003 african rhythm as invented by africans the politics of notating african rhythm when notating music, one. Assistant professor initiates forum to discuss music theory fernando ferrazthe ithacan alex reed, assistant professor of music theory, history and composition, introduces musicologist kofi agawu who leads a discussion on black. Global rhythm available for download and read online in other formats. Agawu offers a new and provocative look at the history of african music scholarship that will resonate with students of ethnomusicology and postcolonial studies. He is famed for his calm and dignified manner ideal for his work as a global peacekeeper. Kofi agawu is an internationally renowned scholar of music theory. Professor agawu will speak about his new book, the african imagination in music, with a special focus on chapter 4, the rhyhmic imagination in african music. His work focuses on analytical issues in selected repertoires of western europe and west africa. Kofi agawus music as discourse has become a standard and definitive work in musical semiotics. Kofi agawu of all the currents of change that have swept the humanities during thelast halfcentury, the most farreaching revolve around language. His work has focused on analytical issues in selected repertoires of western europe and west africa. Two honorary degrees were awarded during the march 2017 graduation.
Director of the school of performing arts, and head of the english department. Confronting the legacy of european writing on african music. Apr 17, 20 last week the centre for music studies at city university london was privileged to welcome to its guest lecture series professor kofi agawu of princeton university, who is presently in the uk for the 2012 academic year as the george eastman visiting professorship in the faculty of music at oxford university. The rhythmic imagination in african music, with kofi agawu, phd, professor of music, princeton university, january 26, 2017 at 7. The african imagination in music foregrounds a hitherto under. The distinctive quality of african music lies in its rhythmic structure and scholarly work on this music has usually stressed drumming as the site at which complex rhythms are cultivated.
Last week the centre for music studies at city university london was privileged to welcome to its guest lecture series professor kofi agawu of princeton university, who is presently in the uk for the 2012 academic year as the george eastman visiting professorship in the faculty of music at oxford university. Joseph kerman, professor of music at a state university in california, and a leading voice in musicology, publishes how we got into analysis, and. Ethnomusicological discourse is characterized by a carefully plotted regimen of priorities, which tends to conduct inquiry away from western style. Philosophy, history, and literary criticism, among other languagebased disciplines, have developed what is often presented as a largely unprecedented selfconsciousness about representation. According to him, analysis teaches the unperceptive listener to hear. Poet, literary scholar, educator, and cultural activist, kofi anyidoho is currently on postretirement contract as professor of literature in the english department, university of ghanalegon. The invention of african rhythm by kofi agawu inventing african rhythm the notion that the distinctive quality of african music lies in its rhythmic structure, and consequently that the terms aftican music and african rhythm are often interchangeable, has been so persistently thematized in writings about african music that it has by now assumed the status of a. He is a distinguished professor at the graduate center, cuny. Kofi agawu his followers to compress nearly two hundred years of tonal practice into a single time frame in order to develop a powerful theory of tonality, so it is necessary, in this significantly more modest context, to downplay the influence of composers personal styles in. Representing african music epistemology anthropology. Analyzing music under the new musicological regime author. Reflection and introspection in the film scores of thomas newman the most transformative moments in life cause us to look both backward reflection and inward introspection. Assistant professor initiates forum to discuss music. Kofi agawu argues that drumming is only one among several modes of rhythmic expression and that a more fruitful approach to the understanding of african music is through spoken language.
He was a poet, literary critic, professor of comparative literature and served as an ambassador for ghana. The world of subsaharan african music is immensely rich and diverse, containing a plethora of repertoires and traditions. Kofi annan was born into a family of traditional chiefs of the fante tribe in ghana, he rose to become secretarygeneral of the united nations, winning the nobel peace prize in 2001. He has been director of the codesria african humanities institute program, ag.
103 1127 1574 823 1425 1634 429 1091 435 1265 1030 607 1410 971 390 1317 1505 612 264 1320 1407 428 1317 377 238 790 1227 202 773 343 915 1165 1098