Eighth Sonnet is a choral a Capella ensemble based mainly, in Accra, Ghana.
The ensemble derives its name from, and is inspired by Shakespeare’s Eighth Sonnet, whose first two lines are; “Music to hear, why hear’st thou music sadly? Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy:”
The ensemble comprises eight singers who sing four different vocal parts; Leslie Dro Carine Guede and Esther Owusu Nkwantabisah, sing Soprano with luscious tones mixed with the feathery undertones of Samuel Ackon and Joel Bryan Aidoo, who sing the alto part.
The lyrical voices of Moses Torto and Kobina Sackey man the tenor parts, and the sound of the ensemble is made complete by vibrant and tuneful bass lines sang by Roy Aboagye Djan, and James Mckeown Obeng-Gyasi.
Eighth Sonnet’s main goal is to issue an addendum of flair and dynamism to the Ghanaian choral music scene, by attempting a globalized genre of choral music, especially a Capella pieces, and also contemporary twists to existing Ghanaian choral pieces.
In actualizing this goal, the ensemble released their first Christmas Album, “In Dulci Jubilo” which translates as “In Sweet Rejoicing” in December, 2022.
This repertoire spans a musical timeline from the first track on the album “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” reharmonized in 1609 by Michael Praetorius, to contemporary reimaginations of existing hymns including “O Little One Sweet”, which was reharmonized by the ensemble’s Artistic Director, Seth Makafui Passah in 2021.
This album also includes works from accomplished composers and musicians including Felix Mendelssohn, Michael Weir, and Peter Gritton.
The album explores the nativity story in a way that emphasizes the meekness of Christ’s birth and the accompanying joy and salvation it brought to the human race. It is available to stream on all music and video platforms.
2023 will prove to be a good musical year for the ensemble. This year will be marked by various performances and releases, and also a staged Easter Concert which would include pieces composed by Joel Aidoo, and other local and global composers.