Obwisana (Goin' to Ghana): Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Donnelly and Strid have crafted a piece that captures the infectious energy of traditional Ghanaian walking songs while remaining fully accessible to young choirs. The pairing of two folk selections gives you a complete, culturally grounded unit without requiring your singers to tackle dense arrangements or unfamiliar harmonic language. The included SoundTrax CD provides an authentic sonic reference that makes learning and rehearsal more efficient and keeps your singers connected to the music's origins.

These pieces have the warm, communal quality of music meant to be sung while moving through a landscape. There's a steady, purposeful walk to the rhythm, and the pairing creates a natural narrative arc that feels both grounded and uplifting.

Young and developing choirs looking for accessible world music literature that feels genuine rather than simplified. This arrangement works especially well for middle school choirs or beginning high school ensembles that want to expand their cultural repertoire without overwhelming less experienced readers.

• Study the SoundTrax CD before rehearsing so you hear the intended style and rhythmic feel; this reference will help your singers internalize the authentic character of these walking songs.
• Emphasize the call-and-response or conversational quality typical of traditional Ghanaian folk music, encouraging singers to listen actively to each other rather than singing in isolation.
• Keep the energy grounded and steady; these are walking songs meant to move with purpose and rhythm, so resist the urge to rush or let the tempo drift.

Use this as a centerpiece for a multicultural concert or a world music unit that also features repertoire from other continents. The two-song pairing gives you enough substance for a memorable segment without consuming excessive rehearsal time, making it ideal for programming alongside shorter works or as part of a thematic concert focused on folk traditions.

• Singing with rhythmic clarity and precision in walking-song style
• Responding to authentic world music tonality and phrasing conventions
• Building ensemble awareness through call-and-response singing
• Understanding cultural context and respectful performance of folk traditions