MELODIC AND TEXTUAL RESOURCE MATERIALS IN A. T. ’S ”Ÿ ________________________

Abstract

This paper examines the compositional resource materials of Yorà¹bà¡ native airs (YNAs) composed by Rev. A. T. là¡ Olàºdé in his o mn ook k n v l Yorà¹bà¡ native air composers have contributed greatly to the development of the YNAs in Christian liturgy, which was as a result of the need for hymns that best represent the Yorà¹bà¡ identity since there was a clash between the speech tone of the Yorà¹bà¡ texts and the European hymn melodies of the translated European hymns. This paper established four compositional resource materials used in k n the Yorà¹bà¡ hymn book. Rev. là¡ Olàºdé adapted Yorà¹bà¡ folktales and ceremonial melodies to which he added newly composed text in idiomatic Yorà¹bà¡ language reflecting Christian doctrine. In addition, he adapted and made
parody of Yorà¹bà¡ drum language in form of speech surrogacy. He also composed melodies in Yorà¹bà¡ idioms to the first verse of translated European hymns and in addition, he composed entirely original hymns in both text and tune.