The Pan-African Orchestra (PAO) is an orchestra using indigenous African traditions and instruments. It was founded as a 48-piece ensemble[1] in 1988 in Accra, Ghana, by Nana Danso Abiam.[2][3] Abiam died in a motor accident in Accra on 24 December 2014, in the early hours following his 61st birthday.[4][5] His mission with the PAO, originally a 30-piece ensemble, had been to explore the classical foundations of traditional African music and to cultivate an integrated continental art form through new compositional and orchestral techniques.[6] The musicians play traditional instruments from across Africa, including the atenteben, gonje, kora and gyile.[7]
The idea for the Pan-African Orchestra was conceived by Nana Danso Abiam while he was a student (under Professor Kwabena Nketia)[8] at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, when the country was inspired by a nationalistic movement that prevailed during the rule of Ghana's first post-independence president Kwame Nkrumah. According to AllMusic, "A government-funded paper in which Abiam called for the establishment of a national orchestra led to an invitation to take control of the Ghanaian National Symphony Orchestra. Although he accepted the invitation, Abiam became frustrated by the ensemble's 'colonial mentality' and 'resistance to moving from European instruments and composers.' Gathering musicians who were well-versed in the traditional instruments of Africa, Abiam formed the Pan-African Orchestra in 1988."[8][9] The PAO focused on so-called "re-compositions", using traditional themes as the basis for their orchestral interpretations.[9]
The PAO performed at the 1994 WOMAD Festival, and went on to record their album Opus I.[10] It was released through Real World Records in 1995, and subsequently topped the international New World Music Charts for six weeks.[11]
A youth wing of the PAO, the Pan African Youth Orchestra (PAYO), was formed in 1995 in collaboration with the National Theatre of Ghana.[12]
In 2001, in collaboration with dance company Adzido, the PAO toured the UK with the musical play Yaa Asantewaa - Warrior Queen (written by Margaret Busby and directed by Geraldine Connor),[13] and in 2003 the PAO collaborated with kora player Tunde Jegede.[11][10]
^"Press Release: Pan African Orchestra Reviving Itself in 2012", Modern Ghana, 9 November 2011.
^Agawu, Victor Kofi (2003). Representing African Music: Postcolonial Notes, Queries, Positions. Psychology Press. pp. 19–20. ISBN978-0-415-94390-1.
^ abPhilip Sweeney, "Symphonies for a continent: The Pan African Orchestra uses native instruments to create a novel sound. Philip Sweeney met them in Ghana just before their first European tour", The Independent, 9 August 1994.
^"Yaa Asantewaa: Warrior Queen", National Theatre, Black Plays Archive.
External linksedit
Philip Sweeney, "Symphonies for a continent: The Pan African Orchestra uses native instruments to create a novel sound. Philip Sweeney met them in Ghana just before their first European tour", The Independent, 9 August 1994.
ZeroGravity Films, "Accra, the Music of Nana Danso Abiam". Vimeo.
Pan African Orchestra on YouTube.
"Pan African Orchestra plays Osibisa Music for the Gong Gong", YouTube video.
"Pan African Orchestra plays in Accra".
May 03, 2024
african, orchestra, orchestra, using, indigenous, african, traditions, instruments, founded, piece, ensemble, 1988, accra, ghana, nana, danso, abiam, abiam, died, motor, accident, accra, december, 2014, early, hours, following, 61st, birthday, mission, with, o. The Pan African Orchestra PAO is an orchestra using indigenous African traditions and instruments It was founded as a 48 piece ensemble 1 in 1988 in Accra Ghana by Nana Danso Abiam 2 3 Abiam died in a motor accident in Accra on 24 December 2014 in the early hours following his 61st birthday 4 5 His mission with the PAO originally a 30 piece ensemble had been to explore the classical foundations of traditional African music and to cultivate an integrated continental art form through new compositional and orchestral techniques 6 The musicians play traditional instruments from across Africa including the atenteben gonje kora and gyile 7 Contents 1 Background 2 Discography 3 References 4 External linksBackground editThe idea for the Pan African Orchestra was conceived by Nana Danso Abiam while he was a student under Professor Kwabena Nketia 8 at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana when the country was inspired by a nationalistic movement that prevailed during the rule of Ghana s first post independence president Kwame Nkrumah According to AllMusic A government funded paper in which Abiam called for the establishment of a national orchestra led to an invitation to take control of the Ghanaian National Symphony Orchestra Although he accepted the invitation Abiam became frustrated by the ensemble s colonial mentality and resistance to moving from European instruments and composers Gathering musicians who were well versed in the traditional instruments of Africa Abiam formed the Pan African Orchestra in 1988 8 9 The PAO focused on so called re compositions using traditional themes as the basis for their orchestral interpretations 9 The PAO performed at the 1994 WOMAD Festival and went on to record their album Opus I 10 It was released through Real World Records in 1995 and subsequently topped the international New World Music Charts for six weeks 11 A youth wing of the PAO the Pan African Youth Orchestra PAYO was formed in 1995 in collaboration with the National Theatre of Ghana 12 In 2001 in collaboration with dance company Adzido the PAO toured the UK with the musical play Yaa Asantewaa Warrior Queen written by Margaret Busby and directed by Geraldine Connor 13 and in 2003 the PAO collaborated with kora player Tunde Jegede 11 10 Discography editOpus I Real World Records 1995 References edit Baba Abdulai Goodbye Nana Danso Abiam Weekend Sun 22 February 2015 Daniel Avorgbedor Pan African Orchestra Grove Music Online Oxford University Press Retrieved 24 February 2014 John Owoo Nana Danso Abiam A true musicial sic genius Graphic Online 22 April 2016 Kojo Antwi others to perform at Abiam s vigil tonight Starr FM 12 March 2015 Kwesi Appiah To Nana Danso Abiam Graphic Online 7 March 2015 Press Release Pan African Orchestra Reviving Itself in 2012 Modern Ghana 9 November 2011 Agawu Victor Kofi 2003 Representing African Music Postcolonial Notes Queries Positions Psychology Press pp 19 20 ISBN 978 0 415 94390 1 a b Philip Sweeney Symphonies for a continent The Pan African Orchestra uses native instruments to create a novel sound Philip Sweeney met them in Ghana just before their first European tour The Independent 9 August 1994 a b Craig Harris Artist Biography at AllMusic a b Genevieve Ruha Nana Danso Abiam GhanaNation 18 September 2013 a b Lawrence Ben 13 October 2015 Nana Danso Abiam amp the Pan African Orchestra Ghana Goods Retrieved 2 October 2022 Pan African Youth Orchestra website Yaa Asantewaa Warrior Queen National Theatre Black Plays Archive External links editPhilip Sweeney Symphonies for a continent The Pan African Orchestra uses native instruments to create a novel sound Philip Sweeney met them in Ghana just before their first European tour The Independent 9 August 1994 ZeroGravity Films Accra the Music of Nana Danso Abiam Vimeo Pan African Orchestra on YouTube Pan African Orchestra plays Osibisa Music for the Gong Gong YouTube video Pan African Orchestra plays in Accra Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pan African Orchestra amp oldid 1195263828, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
