#Harold Ritchter

[choralmusicghana]

Remembering JG Koomson: Pt 2

George Mensah Essilfie remembers JG Koomson, a close friend a collaborator in life, whose memory will be kept alive by the community he leaves behind. 

It was no wonder that the Kumasi diocese (GHAMECC)  approached myself and JG to supervise, arrange selected hymn repertoire and play the keyboard for their first CD production. 

JG and myself assiduously prepared for this task. We wrote descants and varied harmonies for this project and shared ideas together. These enriched our musicalities. 

Later, JG sent his son,  Abeku, to me for piano instruction because he(JG) was then living and working in Accra . Abeku came with his best friend,  "Papa Mensah" at the time and that was Patrick Addaquaye, now a Ghanaian music celebrity. Abeku now resides in Columbus and often recounts those times when we meet. 

I went to see JG at Kasoa when I visited Ghana in 2011. We had lunch,  dinner, visited Mr. Kras Arthur together,  spent time talking about our families, careers and current trends in choral music both in the USA and Ghana. I didn't have the chance to visit him when I came to Ghana for my 'Otomfo' concert  in 2015 because he was out of town but we had a lengthy talk over the phone.  He was happy his son Abeku, in the USA lived in the same city as me and entrusted him to my care. I promised him I would take good care of him. Since then we have talked several times over the phone.

 JG was very enthused about a compilation of some of his recent songs. I encouraged him to do so because I knew the quality of works JG has been blessed with by the almighty God. 

JG has moved on but his works will forever stay with us till Christ returns but I believe the angels are welcoming him with the beautiful works God gave to us through him (JG). 

I talked to him some few weeks ago and he told me his health was improving.  I could tell the joy in his voice but we serve a God who knows what is best for us even though we sometimes feel or think otherwise.  The Lord has need of him more than we do. Heaven is rejoicing for our brother,  friend and colleague JG while we in our earthly stance as humans,  grieve.  Oh,  if we could for a moment pause to ask ourselves,  "our purpose in life?".....we would thank the Lord for JG's life on earth.  He was created to  serve the Lord through music and this he diligently did.  

John G. Koomson served as organist for several Methodist congregations and taught several choirs including Bantama Ebebezer Methodist,  Kumasi and Good Shepherd Methodist,  Accra.  He also nurtured several young musicians in keyboard and composition skills.  

His passion for the academia propelled him to further his education up to the masters level at the  University of Legon and subsequently lecture at the Music department of The Methodist university, Ghana. 

JG published a set of African piano pieces.  He was an ardent hymn tunes composer and some of his songs were included in the "Methodist Praise", a compilation by GHAMECC and published in 2008. He was part of the editorial team for this compilation which included songs and hymns from various Ghanaian Choral composers. JG also self published some of his compositions.  

JG was honored in 2010 by SALM in conjuction with The Harmonious Chorale.  His songs were featured at an exclusive concert by the Harmonious Chorale and other choirs.  

The histories of Church music and choral music in Ghana would not be complete without the mention of JG's contribution. JG revisited in his music,  the stylistic characteristics of the celebrated veteran composer,  Alfred Entsuah Mensah (1906 -1976) and in so doing found his own voice. 

The stylistic features - to state a few include lavish use of chromaticism. In a varied harmony to Nzeh's tune  "What a friend we have in Jesus", one can find evidence of the use of chromaticism in his music, the use of dominant sevenths (V7) to establish pressured continuity, and syncopation as in Jazzy melodies and rhythms. 

The family of JG has lost a great  son,  brother,  husband and father. Ghana has lost a great musician, musicians have lost a great brother abd colleague,  choral music enthusiasts have lost a great man who brought comfort and joy to their music souls. 

Rest in perfect peace,  JG. You will forever remain in our hearts.