Members of Ikeja Deanery Choir at the concert
As part of efforts to revive classical music in Nigeria, the Catholic Church under the aegis of Ikeja Deanery Choir have emphasised the need to resuscitate classic music in the country.
Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music, including both religious and secular music. Unlike popular music, classical music has become unpopular among youths.
Members of Ikeja Deanery Choir, who made the assertion in Lagos during their classical musical concert held at St.Leo Catholic Church,Ikeja, Lagos regretted that classical music was dying fast.
Making a defence for classical music revival, the Deanery Choirmaster Coordinator, Mr Tony Eluno, said “we want to go back to the root”, adding that “ where the problem comes from is that there is too much of Pentecostal influence in the way we worship in Catholic Church.”
Eluno explained further “ we do not take to the importance of classical songs or even standard church music any more. There is one thing known to be logical music in the Catholic Church, but all the music has taking back seat. And that is why we have come together to do a classical music concert to re-awaken classical songs in catholic churches.”
The Ikeja Deanery Choir was made up of 10 choristers each from 10 parishes to form 100 mass choirs.
Highlighting the importance of the concert, the Chairman of Planning Committee of the concert, Mr Livinus Ojefua, stated that the concert was dedicated to late Rt. Rev. Monsignor Michael Omisesan, who was a very active priest during his days,adding that the “the purpose of the concert is unite all choir within Ikeja Deanery and gather together to learn classical songs and when they get to their different parishes they can sing it, and then classical music would be revived in all part of the Catholic Churches ”.