Styles of ghanaian choral music composers: “the syncopation man”- James tsemafo-arthur

The study of Ghanaian choral music composers and their works has become significant in recent times for scholars in composition and ethnomusicology as well as Music Education, in order to add to the dearth of literature on Ghanaian composers and their unique styles. Indeed, some few living music composers in Ghana have received attention through dissertation writing in the academic institutions. Using the concept of biography, the Cultural-historical activity theory, as well as case study design with non-directive interview and purposive sampling technique, the study takes a cursory look at the events of the life and unique style of Tsemafo-Arthur, and presented as biographical facts that have influenced his artistic creativity in music composition. It is concluded that Tsemafo-Arthur is a unique stylized choral music composer resulting from his mastery use of syncopations as an artistic device in his compositions. His usage of Fante texts as libretto for his songs, emanating from the Christian Asɔr Ndwom (Methodist Hymn Book), portrays the source of his textual materials. The study contributes significantly to educational function in music composition at various levels of music education.