Obwisana (Goin' to Ghana): 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid
Item: 00-PO-0003133
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
A pairing of two folk songs from Ghana makes this a wonderful "world-music" selection for young and developing choirs. In the style of traditional walking songs. Authentic sounding SoundTrax CD.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0003133
More about this title
About the Composer: Mary Donnelly
Mary Donnelly grew up in Reno, Nevada, and pursued dual degrees in English and French at the University of Nevada before discovering her true calling in music education. After organizing children's choruses while still in college, she returned to graduate school at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she focused on arts integration across the curriculum. She spent thirty years teaching general music and choir in the Washoe County School District, retiring as an active member of ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP.
In 1985, Donnelly began collaborating with George L. O. Strid when their principal asked them to compose a musical for Reading Week. That initial project sparked a prolific partnership that has produced over two hundred songs and twenty-five musicals. Her work reflects a deep understanding of how young singers learn and grow through repertoire that connects them to cultures beyond their own.
Why we love this
Donnelly and Strid have crafted something genuine here: two Ghanaian walking songs woven together with authentic rhythmic and melodic character, not sanitized for young voices. The pairing gives your choir a complete musical experience within one piece, and the SoundTrax accompaniment captures the traditional style so vividly that singers immediately understand what they're aiming toward.
What to expect
Grounded and communal. These walking songs move with steady purpose, the kind of music that invites singers to feel connected to each other and to something larger than the rehearsal room. There's an earthy confidence to the melody and rhythm that sounds world-weary and joyful at once.
Who it's for
Developing middle school and early high school choirs ready to explore repertoire beyond their home culture. The two-part writing accommodates mixed or same-voice ensembles without compromise, and the accessible range and straightforward rhythm support singers still building musicianship.
How to get the most out of it
- Study the SoundTrax recording before rehearsal. Let your singers hear the natural phrasing and rhythmic swing of traditional Ghanaian walking songs so they internalize the style rather than sing it metrically.
- Shape the two-part writing so each voice contributes melody and conversation. Young choirs often relegate parts to accompaniment; this piece rewards balanced ensemble singing.
- Honor the cultural origins by researching Ghana's walking song tradition with your choir. A brief introduction in rehearsal transforms the piece from "a fun world music song" into something students genuinely understand and respect.
How to use it
Pair this with other world music selections to build a concert theme, or program it as a bridge between sacred and secular repertoire when you need something with spiritual weight that isn't explicitly devotional. It also works beautifully as an encore, leaving audiences with a sense of journey.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in world music styles with authentic phrasing and rhythm
- Balancing two independent melodic lines in ensemble
- Responding to cultural context and historical background in performance
- Sustaining steady pulse in the face of rhythmic ornamentation