By Chinonso Ihekire

Theophilus Ogaga’s “Divine Soaking Worship Medley” performance is worthy of its laurels. The medley, comprising a dozen songs across popular West African Christian  gospel music, is performed with a Violin, save for minor piano and bass drum accompaniments across the quarter hour spin. And it feels like a gentle lecture on the concept of ‘God’ on Violins.

A good music composition should attempt to answer questions, curiosity points of vision versus pace, or tone plus technique, but Ogaga’s medley actually leaves riddles of blank spaces to imagine the entire permutation of possibilities that could reshape the composition. It’s why the song essentially finds its heartbridge right in the middle of the medley, around hymns like “Jesus Lamb of God, Worthy Is Your Name”, “You Reign, You Ancient Zion’s King”, “Reign Jesus Reign”, and “Okun Gbo Ohun Re”. The latter actually begins the medley’s climaxing quarter with a strong showcase of chord compositions that call for applause.

This writer also finds the arpeggios laced across the quarters of the medley satisfyingly artsy, as they help belt the melancholia around the thumpy percussions or other accompaniment that transition each bridge of the medley. “Resurrection And The Life” continues Ogaga’s sonata which breathes with ease as it marches towards a cinematic finish with “Ko S’agbara To Da Bi Ti Jesu”.

While it’s partly annoying that the hymns are laced without a theme, with the sombre pacing slightly leaning towards a stronger sedative-like lull, it also posits a broader stylistic perspective, with more credence given to the composition’s functionality over philosophical self-censorship. It’s basically simple, but because it really does help push the mood of the message behind the music. It’s music that’s befitting as a gratification port, whether it’s hiking, meditation, prayer, or just basically studying. Like all exceptional ambient recordings, it’s heavily mood controlled and Ogaga’s medley maintains a neat pace throughout the record.

Another reason to plug into this composition on any given whim is Ogaga’s tension and release technique which colours the composition with a swell of emotion. The smooth piano chords that accompany the intro, “Spirit Of The Living God, Fall Afresh On Me”, jerk the medley into life and across the entire spin Ogaga keeps the composition adrift with a tempo that always touches base with the take-off. It’s why hymns like “Reign Jesus Reign” and “You Are Jehovah” spark off the same gusto with sporadic chord progression that also retain long stretches of that initial high tempo. It’s basically an easy listen, with multiple sub-climaxes transitioning each quarter of the medley into a large operatic finish.

The close, “Holy Spirit Carry Me”, swells with intrigue with the neat stacking of piano, and bass accompaniments on a single tune that keeps climbing a staircase of tempos with varied chord progression. It’s a cinematic composition that adds haunting thumpy percussion that’s all just extra spice for the moody vibe of the record. It’s music with a fine method of classical composition and a very cohesive feel, ranking as one of Ogaga’s most riveting performances in recent years.

Theophilus Oghenewogaga is a classically trained gospel music minister and multi-instrumentalist with a burden to see lives positively affected and transformed through anointed gospel music. He has been privileged to minister alongside many notable gospel artists in the kingdom namely Nathaniel Bassey, Sinach and many others.

He has taken many professional music certifications over the years from the Associate Board Royal Schools of music England for Diploma in violin performance and grade 8 in singing in which he bagged a distinction from all sponsored by His father in the Lord Prof DK Olukoya. He has also led believers all around the world from various tribes and tongues in worship including Israel at “Thy Kingdom Come” hosted by Pastor Nathaniel Bassey in Jerusalem. Theophilus currently serves as the music Director of the MFM Lekki youth church, the largest MFM regional youth church in Africa.