Agbadza (2021) for piano solo

Abstract

Agbadza is an intercultural work for solo piano wherein elements and processes of the music of the Ewe ethnic group from Ghana in West Africa are combined with 20th-century Western art music compositional techniques. The musical language of the Ewe, which consists of short pentatonic melodies and complex polyrhythmic drum textures, is translated into a compositional fabric that highlights both the melodic and percussive capabilities of the piano. This article illustrates some of the Ewe compositional elements heard in Agbadza with music examples from the score and a brief explication.