Asa: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent

Description

The vast repertoire of piano music of Africa and its Diaspora, which has until recently been generally unavailable, appears in myriad forms and styles, from simple to virtuosic. This compact disc brings to light compositions that may have remained in manuscript form, been out of print, or not widely circulated. I have entitled it Asa, which in Fanti (my mother s language) is the noun for dance as most of the music on the disc finds its roots in dance music. I am particularly thrilled to discover wonderful works by composers of Africa and its Diaspora that reflect the intercultural nature of my upbringing. I am deeply indebted to the composers, colleagues, family, and friends who have been very encouraging in this project, and it is my sincere hope that this music will lead to an even greater surge in demand for art music from Africa and the African Diaspora. Enjoy! WILLIAM CHAPMAN NYAHO, a Ghanaian American and resident of Seattle, received his degrees from St. Peter's College, Oxford University (UK), the Eastman School of Music and the University of Texas at Austin. He also studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, Switzerland. Chapman Nyaho is the recipient of prizes from international piano competitions. Following four years as a North Carolina Visiting Artist, Chapman Nyaho taught at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and was the recipient of the Distinguished Professor Award and held the Heymann Endowed Professorship. He was also the recipient of the Acadiana Arts Council Distinguished Artist Award. Chapman Nyaho has also served as Visiting Professor of Music at Colby College and Willamette University. His summer teaching appointments include Interlochen Summer Arts Camp and Adamant Music School. As a regular guest clinician, Chapman Nyaho gives lecture-recitals and workshops advocating music by composers of the African heritage. He has compiled and edited a five-volume graded anthology Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora published by Oxford University Press. He has served on national committees for the Music Teachers National Association, College Music Society and the National Endowment for the Arts and been an adjudicator in International competitions in the North America and Europe and Africa. Chapman Nyaho s solo performances have taken him to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and North America including Washington D.C. s Kennedy Center. He has performed as soloist with various orchestras and as chamber musician as well as appearing regularly as duo pianist with the Nyaho/Garcia Duo. The duo has released a critically acclaimed CD Aaron Copland: Music For Two Pianos on the Centaur Label and regularly promotes music by composers of African and Hispanic heritage. Chapman Nyaho has been featured on radio and television broadcasts in Africa Europe and North America. He has also hosted his own show The Bach Show, developed for classical radio station KRVS in Louisiana. Wiolliam Chapman Nyaho s first solo disc SENKU: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent [MSR MS1091], a groundbreaking compilation of music of the African Diaspora was recently choreographed by Tony Award winning Garth Fagan. The CD was named one of the Best of the Year by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which called it altogether enthralling; Gramophone said Nyaho s gripping performances kept my ears glued to this disc...Let s hope the pianist continues to explore and record more such commanding repertoire; Dr. Maya Angelou wrote that it holds moments of discovery so delicious that the listeners will be made to laugh out loud and to compliment not just Dr. Chapman Nyaho, but themselves at their good fortune in finding these composers and this pianist.