The Organ Works of Fela Sowande

Subtitle:: Cultural Perspectives
Author:: Godwin Sadoh
Format:: Softcover
Average customer rating:: (Reviews)

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Product details

Publisher:: Iuniverse
ISBN:: 9780595473175
Publication date:: October 2007
Length:: 229mm
Width:: 152mm
Thickness:: 8mm
Weight:: 200g
Pages:: 128
Illustrations:: Illustrated

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The Organ Works of Fela Sowande
Reviewed by Dr Mickey Thomas Terry from Washington, DC, USA on 03 October 2008
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

In order to do this, he discusses the political, social, and economic factors that were responsible for introducing western classical music to Nigeria. The significant role of the mission schools and colonial institutions in the musical development of Nigerian musicians is clearly highlighted, for these two sources played a major role in the formal education of Nigerians. It was the culmination of these forces that produced Sowande and other Nigerian musicians of the era. In Sowande, a world view was forged that would accompany him during his lifelong musical pursuits. Sadoh makes a strong case for Sowande’s intercultural stance (exhibiting compositional elements of the African, African-American, and European) and presents cogent arguments to support it via the organ compositions. The work provides an insightful cultural analysis of the composer’s organ works that includes a discussion concerning the presence and nature of Yoruba dance elements and African rhythms in Sowande’s compositions. Of particular interest to this reviewer is the presentation of material pertaining to Sowande’s views regarding the African concept of musical communication and the role that it ultimately played in his choice of thematic material. Sadoh’s research is well documented. In addition to the presentation of significant biographical material, it provides a useful discography of Sowande recordings in the appendix. Moreover, the publication contains numerous and diverse photographs of Sowande taken during various stages of his professional career. Those of particular interest are those photographs of Sowande seated at the pipe organ and Hammond organ as well as photographs taken during his stage appearances as a noted jazz pianist. Published studies such as this, featuring the works and accomplishments of African and African-American organ composers are exceedingly scarce. For this reason, it is all the more delightful to encounter well researched and documented works such as this. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Fela Sowande. The African-American Organ Music Anthology

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The Organ Works of Fela Sowande: Cultural Perspect
Reviewed by Unknown from U.S.A. on 03 December 2007
7 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

It was my great pleasure to recieve a copy of Godwin Sadoh's work on Fela Sowande, The ORGAN WORKS of FELA SOWANDE. I was closely associated with Fela Sowande from early 1975 until his death in March of 1987. We worked closely together musicaly, philosophically and personally at Kent State University and Randolph House. I was proud to sponcer his American Citizenship, and was honored to be his close friend and son. This long awaited book is in the vangard of new publications about Fela Sowande. It is well written and beautifully organised. Godwin Sadoh describes Sowande's view of the relationship of African culture with traditional art and music, and how old and new values can, in a balanced way, be combined to create a new and meaningful metaphor. A traditional melody that is expressed in a new way with new instruments or technique, is such an example of honoring the old with the new. Sadoh technically describes the music in such a way as not to loose the reader. The history is acurate and this portion of Sowande's life and work are wonderfully portrayed. Plentiful photographs illustrate the evolution of Sowande's life and work. This book relates how the inspiration of African tradition and culture inspired the music of Sowande as well as his Pan African philosophy. John Coletrane, Eugene Han@#$& and many others were inspired in their artistic indeavors through knowing Fela Sowande. As a historian, musician, and beloved friend, I highly recommend this book. Guy M. Pernetti Ade' Yemi'

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