Chikungunya

Description

Chikungunya is an infection caused by the chikungunya virus and is transmitted by two species of mosquitos of the genus Aedes: A. albopictus and A. aegypti. This disease normally occurs in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent, however, in recent decades mosquito vectors of chikungunya have spread to parts of Mexico (the home of composer Leroy Osmon).

The term ‘chikungunya’ is derived from the Makonde root verb kungunyala, meaning to dry up or become contorted and describes the bent and twisted appearance of sufferers with severe joint pain. The Makonde term was more specifically referred to as “that which bends up.” Subsequent authors apparently overlooked the references to the Makonde language and assumed that the term derived from Swahili, the lingua franca of the region. The erroneous attribution of the term as a Swahili word has been repeated in numerous print sources. Many other erroneous spellings and forms of the term are in common use including “Chicken guinea,” “Chicken gunaya,” and “Chickengunya.”

Although it may seem an odd title or subject for a composer, Leroy Osmon has used the opportunity to direct and guide the interval movement of the melodic material (moving or ‘bending’ upward in an augmented 5th). The composition is designed for younger musicians; however, the harmonic language makes it suitable for more experienced performers. As a grade 2 composition, it allows the introduction of chromatics in several voices and the usage of closely harmonized chords and dissonances.

As with many of the works by Leroy Osmon, the percussion parts are for multi-percussionists, allowing for more opportunity for the total section to be involved in the performance and the opportunity to play a wide variety of instruments normally not associated with a grade 2 work.

Published by: RBC Publications