Not many people know that the great Emeritus Prof. J.H. Kwabena Nketia is an ethnomusicologist and has apart from his 200 publications, 80 compositions most of which are art music.

After numerous appeals from well wishers for him to record his works, the Emeritus Prof. has obliged by releasing four CD?s of his selected works and a book titled ?The Creative Potential of African Art Music in Ghana?.

The launching ceremony which was more of a musical concert than the launching of CD?s had in attendance the National Symphony Orchestra, Indigen Africa, Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Choir, NOYAM Dance Institute, Achimota School of Piano Tema, Sita Korley on piano and Andrews K. Agyemfra-Tettey the man who transcribed, programmed and performed Prof?s music on computer.

Three songs of the renowned musician ?Libation?, ?Akatin?, ?Mampon Kwan Ware?, performed by Indigen Africa using flutes, conches, the xylophone, gome and other percussions instruments opened the show.

They were followed by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Choir who performed Prof. Nketia?s celebrated choral piece ?Monkanfo No? in which the strings, winds and horns was supported by the percussion together with the voices was indeed a beautiful rendition.

The two groups also did ?Adanse Kronkron? composed for woodwinds, strings and tuba with vocal accompaniment by Oscar Acquah.

Sita Korley, a young female pianist performed three works of Prof.?s ?Volta Fantasy?, ?Atwimu? and ?Libation?. It was a delight to watch this young musician perform the works from memory. Her delicate of the keys as her fingers flew over them was a real joy.

Three students of Achimota School, Edwin Ferguson, David Kafui and Sellasie Hanson tutored by Kenn Kafui one of Prof. Nketia?s many students, also performed his works to loud applause from the guests.

NOYAM Dance Institute also gave expression to Prof.?s ?Dance of the Forest?. They did Nii Yartey?s choreography of the work which was a piece of real creativity.

The dance comprised among others short spurts of running movements and turns, quick jumps and slow curly movements which were elastic and deliberately delayed hands and feet movements really beautiful to behold. Some of the movements mainly by the male performers were spiced with acrobatics, very refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable.

Before Prof. Nketia made his remarks, two students of the school of Performing Arts and Osei Korankye on Seperewa did a bit of praise singing composed by him.

In his remarks he mentioned that the song by the three was to show that we can use our own music as art. He intimated that the two girls were 2nd year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students and it was to show that if they had access to traditional music they will be able o perform it.

According to him his message to the youth is that they should learn from the old and improve on what they had learned and even do better than them.

Prof. Nketia stated that he followed the footsteps of Dr. Ephraim Amu and Rev. Danso. ?When I encountered Amu for the first time he asked me not to copy him but to go to the old people in the villages to learn from them. And this counsel has helped me to come this far.?

The RT. Rev A.A. Beeko, past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church and Kenn Kafui of the Achimota School gave lofty testimonies of their association with revered professor.

In his speech E.A. Manful of Afram Publications pointed out that most of Prof. Nketia?s works were published outside and as a result most of them are only found in libraries.

He mentioned further that Prof. greatly regrets this state of affairs as he believes that the centre of gravity for Africa itself and Afram Publications has begun to respond to this.

Mr Manful disclosed that they have obtained the license for a number of Nketia?s books which they will publish. Sale of copies of CD?s by Joyce Rosalinda Aryee yielded over 10 million cedis.