Video Of Ghana's Harmonious Chorale At The World Choir Games (2018)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of Ghana's Harmonious Chorale at the World Choir Games (2018).

This post also provides information about the World Choir Games and the Harmonious Chorale.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are associated with Ghana's Harmonious Choir. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: HARMONIOUS CHORALE AT WORLD CHOIR GAMES 2018



HARMONIOUS CHORALE - GHANA, Published on Nov 14, 2018

Harmonious Chorale at the 10th World Choir Games. Ghana's sole participant at the world choir games crowned winners at World Choir Games. The choir won the newly created category C28 (Champions Competition). Harmonious Chorale Ghana picked up three gold diploma; emerging as the overall winner in one of the category from the open competition.
-snip-
The first song that the Harmonious Chorale sang in this video (beginning at 2:33) is an arrangement of "Lift Every Voice And Sing), which is known as "the African American National Anthem". Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xal0GigaoPQ for a full rendition of this song from this Ghanaian choir.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORLD CHOIR GAMES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Choir_Games
"The World Choir Games (formerly named the Choir Olympics) is the largest global choral festival and competition.[1] Organised by the Interkultur Foundation for amateur choirs from all over the world, regardless of their country of origin, race, genre of music or artistic ambitions, its motto is "Singing together brings nations together".[2] The Games originated from the idea to bring people together through singing in peaceful competition, showing that unity of nations through the arts can be effectively and illustratively demonstrated and challenged.[3] The focus of the Games is on participation above winning, and it aims to inspire people to "experience the strength of interaction, challenging personality and community equally by singing together".[4]

The most recent host of the Games was Tshwane, South Africa from 4 - 14 July 2018, and the next edition of the Games will be co-hosted by Antwerp and Ghent, Belgium from 5 – 15 July 2020.[5][6]

General
The Games are hosted biennially (every even year) in a pre-select city across the globe, where choirs compete in selected categories. In 2012, for instance, there were 23 categories,[7] and in 2016 there were 29 categories, among them "Senior Choirs" and "University Choirs".[8] The Games consist of competitions in two classes (Champions and Open), festival concerts, artistic workshops, and various ceremonies.[9] During the competition, choirs compete for gold, silver, bronze, or "Successful Participation" awards. Medals are awarded in the Champions Competition, and diplomas are awarded in the Open Competition. The choir that attains the highest point and a gold medal in a category during the Champions Competition is awarded the title of "Champion of the World Choir Games" for that category.

As part of the festival aspect of the Games choirs may also choose to participate in artistic workshops featuring renowned choral instructors, as well as friendship concerts and free public concerts where choirs share their music with choristers and audiences from different parts of the world.[10][11] Ceremonies that form part of the Games include opening and closing ceremonies where up to 20 000 choristers join in a single venue, as well as the award ceremonies where the outcomes of the Open Competition and Champions Competition are announced. During the proceedings of the Games, the host for the next edition of the Games is usually also announced."

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NFORMATION ABOUT HARMONIOUS CHOIR
From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonious_Chorale
"Harmonious Chorale (HC) is an interdenominational choir based in Accra, Ghana. It is adjudged one of Ghana's best groups.[1] It was formerly formed as the Harmonious Quartet in 2005[2] and established as Harmonious Chorale in 2007.[3]

Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, the founder and Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries is the Chairman of the choir.[4] The choir is under the directorship of James Varrick Armaah (founder of Harmonious Chorale),[5] composer of popular choral song, 'Oye', and graduate from the school of performing arts Music Department of the University of Ghana, Legon.[6][7]

Harmonious Chorale released its debut album, Come Let Us Sing in 2009.[2]

Harmonious Chorale in 2016 instituted the Joyce Rosalind Aryee International Conference for Choirs,[8] an annual event in appreciation of Aryee's contribution to the promotion and sustenance of chorale music.[9]

Harmonious Chorale was the guest choir at the University of Ghana's maiden edition of the UG Choral Music festival.[10] Harmonious Chorale joined musicians such as Don Moen, Sinach, Angela Christie and Leonel Peterson at the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival, the largest gathering of carol singers in the world, under the auspices of the Governor of the Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.[11]

Harmonious Chorale is the first choir to represent Ghana at the 2018 World Choir Games held in South Africa .[12][13]

Awards
2015 Music of Ghanaian Origin (MOGO) Festival - Best Choral Group[14]
2015 [1] GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Choir of the Year[15]
2016 [2] GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Choir of the Year [16]
2018 [3] Shine Awards - Best Choral Group[17][18][19]
2018 World Choir Games - Golden Diploma (Level 1 Category 09 Mixed choirs)[20][21]
2018 World Choir Games - Golden Diploma (Level IV Category 016 Musica Sacra with Accompaniment)[20][21]
2018 World Choir Games- Winner (Scenic Folklore)[20][21]
2018 World Choir Games - Champions of the World Choir Games ( C28 Open Repertoire)[22][23]
2018 GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Choir of the Year[24]
2018 GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Oratorio of the Year (Joseph & His Brethren) [25]
2018 GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Easter Concert of the Year (Festival of Praise and Worship) [25]
2018 GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Instrumentalist of the year (Augustine Sobeng, Harmonious Chorale) [25]
2018 GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Female Vocal of the Year (Lordina Eugenia Osei, Harmonious Chorale)[25]
2018 GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Composer of the Year (James Varrick Armaah) [25]
2018 GHYouth Choir Choral Festival & Awards - Choral Song of the Year (Nea Wode Me Abeduru Nie, James Varrick Armaah, Harmonious Chorale) [25]"

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS EMBEDDED VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

1. Norbert Naanume, 2018
"Thank You Harmonious Chorale for making Ghana proud. World Champions!!!!

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2. Anita Adubofour, 2018
"Amen.Congratulations HC...Ghana on the map!"

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3. Ebo Bondzie, 2018
"And this radio presenters don't even talk about
And everyday talking about politics"

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4. raphael dotse, 2018
"I'm in love with this great group for a long time, can't even describe the joy they bring to my life any time I watch n listen to their marvelous renditions. Big ups Especially my mentor Varrick"
-snip-
Composer James Varrick Armaah is the Founder and Director of the Harmonious Chorale.

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5. Margaret Asamoah, 2018
"But next time be more diverse, Ghana has other languages ,dances, cultures. If you r representing Us, Thanks , CONGRATS !!🙏🙏🙏👍"

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REPLY
6. Tebis VanKelvin, 2019
"@Margaret Asamoah ... They couldn't represent the whole tribes equally that's why they tried representing on ethnic lines with their cultural dressings...

If you look well at the cultural part you will notice every tribe/ethnic group was fairly represented.."

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7. Wisdom Prince, 2019
"Arguably, HC is the best chorale group in Ghana over the past 50 years. Kudos guys for lifting high the flag of Ghana."

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8. Gwynne Cain, 2019
"Interesting to look at this, there is so much African American creativity here you may not think that there was a difference. During Black History Month we may have something that depicts life like it was during the 1600 and 1700's it would be something in this nature, different tribes at Congo Square entertaining themselves. I really like the percussion arangements, but I have a problem with the voicings that are very much European, I am missing a Bass in the voicing that I love to hear, but maybe it is in another country.The voicing arrangement is tooooo much European. They took away the original sound of the African Culture. They catered the music to the people who were doing the competition. Congratulations , next time put some African blackness back in it. We have some choirs in America that will really give you a show. But congratulations because you worked hard to get there and it paid off. But it would be even better if you would stay in the genre that is represented in your culture, undiluted. Just my Opinon."

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REPLY
9. HARMONIOUS CHORALE - GHANA, 2019
"Many thanks and Suggestion well taken. The harmony was done specifically for the Olympics. We promise to give the world more Africanness as we known for in our next production. Thank you."

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REPLY
10. Hannah Dorkenu, 2019
"Although I may agree with you from a certain perspective. I do not understand what you mean by African Culture. Africa itself consists of different cultural groups. Even in Ghana, we have almost over 30 cultural groups. I don't think there is anything like African culture from where I stand in Ghana. And know that this is my opinion. What African American think of Africa may not be as it is. The choir as they were presenting put in twists from different cultural groups in Ghana. I heard a Ga song, a twi song, even saw Borborbor from eweland, Kpalogo from Ga's and Adowa from the Akans. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't know how African you want us to go again, considering the term choir is European."

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REPLY
11. Prince Jadon, 2019
"@Hannah Dorkenu even ewes didn't have one culture"

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REPLY
12. Akosua Adjeiwaa, 2019
"Please i am from Ghana, there's nathing wrong with the show. What do you know about African or Ghana culture."

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REPLY
13. intuitive self-love, 2019
"@Hannah Dorkenu she just wants you to bark like a dog and run naked lol joke aside many people think Africa is a culture. Lol"

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REPLY
14. Hannah Dorkenu, 2019
"@Prince Jadon Exactly"

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15. Asso asso eric, 2019
"Mes félicitations à ce magnifique groupe qui fait plaisir à ce bon continent d'Afrique"
-snip-
Google translation from French to English:
"Congratulations to this wonderful group that makes this continent of Africa happy"

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16. GH aviator, 2019
"The cultural part was lit. I'm so happy I bumped into this video. Definitely subscribing. 😉😉😉😉"

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17. Margaret Asamoah, 2019
"Work well done All I am saying is be Diverse, Agbadja, Astiagbeko, Gbolo, Borborbor, etc, then you r fully representing Gna , The Ashanti leadership !!!l please. J Nash !!!!"

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REPLY
18. Aso Bosiako, 2019
"Margaret Asamoah let's stop such talks...its Ghanaian and beautiful."

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19. Aseye Diaba, 2019
"Knowing how rich our culture and history is, I cannot rationalize why Ghanaians parents are paying $$$ to send their kids to school in Ghana that primarily teaches a British or American history and culture (curriculum) . Can someone tell me if they’ve seen any pupil in England or America learning about Ghanaian history. How many kids today know about the history of the black stool? Yet you will find Ghanaian kids in international schools in Ghana learning about the 1066 battle of Hastings. We are raising a generation of Ghanaian kids who know absolutely nothing about their culture and fail to see how this will impact us in the future .We are the same folks who will scream if a white man appropriates our culture and starts selling it to us because we do not know the value of what we have. Let us emancipate ourselves from mental slavery.

Well done harmonious chorale for representing our people and culture so well"

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20. Nketiah Manu Joseph, 2019
"Awwww my God I feel like crying ooo😭😭😭😭😭😭😭Ghana ooooooo Ghana"

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21. Linda Ofoli, 2019
"Watching from Italy..much love for Ghanaaaaaaaaaa my motherland❤❤❤❤"

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22. Harriet Afia Mensah, 2019
"Why are we not hearing about this in the media??? They did a FANTASTIC JOB, I'm very proud"

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