Joshua Uzoigwe

1946 - 2005

About

Joshua Uzoigwe (1946-2005), a Nigerian composer, began his studies in 1960 at Nigeria’s premier school, King’s College High School, an institution based on King’s College, Cambridge. He continued his studies at the International School, Ibadan and at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1970-73. While at the International School, he came to know and perform the works of prominent Nigerian art musicians Fela Sowande (composer and organist), Ayo Bankole (composer and organist), and Christopher Oyesiku (singer), which exposed Uzoigwe to the modern compositional techniques of Nigerian art music that would later become the basis of his own creative work. Uzoigwe also studied orchestration and counterpoint, theory and history of European art music, piano performance and composition.  His compositional ideas continued to form while at the Guildhall School of Music in London, and later at the University of Belfast. At the Guildhall School, he wrote several virtuoso piano pieces and the Lustra Variations and Nigerian Dances for symphony orchestra. At Belfast he studied ethnomusicology under British anthropologist and ethnomusicologist John Blacking, whose research and knowledge of the field of African music attracted many African music students. Blacking’s advocating of studying music from the perspective of those who own it was an important influence on Uzoigwe. Following the examples set by Nketia and John Blacking, Uzoigwe went back to Nigeria to conduct field research in traditional music amongst his own people, the Igbos, from 1977-79, focusing on the ritual musical tradition called ukom. His compositions continued to reflect the influence of this research into traditional  music. While at Belfast, he composed Ritual Procession for African and European Orchestra. His song cycle, Four Igbo Songs, for soprano and piano was revised in 1985 after he began working with soprano for Joyce Adewumi at the University of Ife in Nigeria.33 This song cycle, which he later expanded to six songs in 1996, is one of his finest examples of works which effectively incorporate African music elements within the context of the art song. At the same time he wrote Talking Drums (1990) and Abigbo (2003) for solo piano and began studying the oja, or native flute traditions, and the role they played in Igbo society. Other compositions include The Day is Passing By for SATB choir (1995), Two Igbo Songs for soprano and piano (1973), Two Songs for Mixed Chorus and Siren Limits for SATB choir.  Like Arnold Schoenberg, Charles Ives, and Akin Euba, Uzoigwe became disenchanted with tonality and, seeking a new viewpoint, experimented with atonality. Examples of works in this style include Little Jesus, The Day is Passing and Water Lilly Serenade (orchestral). Uzoigwe held positions as lecturer of music theory and piano at the University of Ife in Nigeria, University of Nigeria at Nsukka (1992-1996) and then at University of Uyo in Nigeria (1996-2005) until his death.

Related Information

http://www.eshanthapeiris.com/abigbo--joshua-uzoigwe.html

Works by Joshua Uzoigwe