Alfred Performs Oratorio To Standing Ovation

At just 20 years of age, Alfred Patrick Addoquay has composed an Oratorio. He has named it "Laudate" and it comprises 32 classical songs.

An Oratorio is a large musical work, which contains a succession of choruses, arias (solos), duets and recitatives with orchestral accompaniment.

It is also a musical drama in which the choruses and duets serve as commentary while the narrator's recitative relates the story and connects one piece with another.

That is what Addaquay has done and named, "Laudate" which comprises 32 classical songs.

Alfred received a standing ovation from a large audience which listened to his work live at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) last week Friday.

Alfred was accompanied in the live performance by the Oguaa Youth Choir of Cape Coast, which was conducted by Ebenezer Appiah-Danquah and other soloists.

Addaquay's Laudate was composed, written and arranged by himself, making it a first of its kind perhaps in Ghana. In addition to that, he has in his repertoire a lot of compositions in the vein of Gospel, Highlife, Christmas Carols and Anthem.

He had the first live performance of his "Laudate" at the auditorium of the University of Cape Coast in March this year where the premiere lasted two hours.

Alfred is a first year student at the Department of Music at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). He was born on September 17, 1985 in Kumasi to Mr and Mrs Alfred Addaquay.

He had his basic education at the KNUST Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Kumasi before gaining admission to Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast. He had a distinction in Music at the SSSCE at Mfantsipim School, which he completed in 2004.

He started playing the organ at a tender age of seven and has been a regular player of the organ at the Kumasi Wesley Methodist Cathedral.

Mawuyram Quessie Adjahoe, a lecturer in music at UCC who edited Alfred's work has already recommended the "Laudate" for church choirs, youth choirs, non-denominational choirs and groups as well as schools and college choirs.

Story by Enoch Darfah Frimpong