SYDNEYGUILLAUME
Fèt Chanpèt
( Haitian Creole – English Poetic Translation )
“Beng, beng, beng”, mwen tande “beng”, Klòch la sonnen “beng”!
Me mwa Jiyè fè “beng” nan dènye almanak!
Tout timoun delivre, pwofesè kraze rak, Nan tout kwen peyi-a, dènye lekòl lage!
Tout pèleren pare; se sezon Fèt Chanpèt!
Banbòch la kòmanse, toupatou se bèl fèt!
Anpil moun debake nan Lakou Migonga; Poul, kòdenn ak kanna fè ribanbèl nan lakou-a.
Papa ak gran papa, frè ak sè reyini, Vwazinay ak zanmi, nou tout f on sèl fanmi. Wi, tout sa se lizay nan Peyi d’Ayiti.
Labapen, pitimi, kann kale fè kenken, Mango ak zaboka tonbe tout lajounen.
Lavèy, se boule bwa, Demen, se mès dizè.
Tout moun ap selebre: Viv La Sen Jak Majè!
Ala yon bèl epòk, Se la jwa, se la fèt!
Apre La Plèndinò, se tou pa Limonad.
Se sezon Fèt Chanpèt!
Nou tout n ape chante, N ap rele: “Beng, beng, beng”!
An nou fete jouk sa kaba!
Me mwa Jiyè fè “beng” nan dènye almanak!
Se Fèt Chanpèt! Nanpwen konsa!
-Gabriel T. Guillaume Juin 2010
“Beng, beng, beng” I hear it ring, The bell rings “beng”!
July strikes “beng” through every almanac!
Children are free, teachers are dead tired, In every corner of the country, school is out!
Pilgrims are ready; it’s Fèt Chanpèt season at last! The feast has begun, celebrations everywhere!
They arrive in droves at *Lakou Migonga, Chickens, turkeys and ducks whirl through the yard.
Fathers and grandfathers, sisters and brothers together, Neighbors and friends all as one family.
Yes, these are the cherished customs of Haiti.
Breadfruit, millet, peeled sugarcane pass from hand to hand, Mangos and avocados tumble all day long.
On the eve, wood fires crackle, Tomorrow, the ten o’clock Mass.
Everyone celebrates: Cheers to Saint James the Great!
What a beautiful season, Nothing but joy, nothing but celebration!
After Plaine-du-Nord, it’s Limonade’s turn.
It’s Fèt Chanpèt season!
We’re all singing, All cheering: “Beng, beng, beng!”
Let’s celebrate until the very end!
July strikes “beng” through every almanac!
It’s Fèt Chanpèt! There’s none like it!
Fèt Chanpèt is a festival that lights up Haiti each summer. In towns across the country, people gather for moments of cultural celebration and festivity shaped by both Catholic and local spiritual traditions. Sacred and joyful, Fèt Chanpèt is a time when communities reunite, marketplaces burst with activity, bells ring, and the streets echo with music and cheer.
*Lakou is a Haitian Creole term for a communal family courtyard. More than a physical place, it is a sacred space that honors ancestors and serves as a gathering place for shared meals, music, dancing, storytelling and debates. Lakou Migonga refers to the backyard of my family home in Plaine-du-Nord, Haiti.
Gabriel T. Guillaume
Soprano Alto
Fèt Chanpèt Fèt Chanpèt
Commissioned by the Austin Peay State University Chamber Singers Under the direction of Dr. Korre D. Foster
Joyfully c. q = 110
“Beng, beng, beng”- I hear it ring.
Beng, mp beng!
Sydney Guillaume
Beng, mp beng!
Tenor Bass
Djembe (or similar drum)
Conga (or similar drum)
Glass Bottle (or similar sound)
Beng, mp beng,beng,beng,beng, mwentande - beng, mwentande - beng,o
“Beng, beng, beng”- I hear it ring.
Mtande, -
beng,beng! mwentande - beng,tande, - tande, - mwentande - beng, beng, ben mp gen- den- gen- deng,- mwentande - beng.Mwentande, - mwentande, - mwentande, - mwentande, -
bengen - den- gen- deng,- mwentande - beng.Beng,mwentande - bengbengbeng.Beng,mwentande - bengbengbeng.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited by law.
Cga. mtande, -
beng, bengbeng,tande'm - tande, - mwentande - beng, mf beng, mwentan - de- bengbengbeng,beng, mwentande - beng, mf beng,beng,beng,beng, woy!mwentande - bengbengbeng.beng,beng,mwentande - beng.Beng, mf beng,beng,beng,beng, mf mf
S. A. T. B. Djm.
Cga. mf brightly Me 10 beng, beng,beng, beng, bengmwentande, - mwentandebengbeng,mwentande - beng.Beng,woy, klòchsonnen - beng,obengbeng,mwentande, - mwentandebengbeng,mwentande - beng.Beng,woy, klòchsonnen - beng,obengbeng,mwentande, - mwentande&bbbbb . ∑ ∑
&bbbbb
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
July strikes "beng" through every almanac! . &bbbbb & ‹ bbbbb
mwaJi yè- fèbengnandènie - al ma- nak! - Bengbeng,wo,ouwo, - ouwo. - Tout
beng.tande, - tande - klòchsonnen - beng. Bengbeng,wo,ouwo, - ouwo. brightly - Tout
beng.tande - bengklòchsonnen - beng,beng,bengbengbeng. Beng!woy,mwentande, - tande -
?bbbbb.
beng.tande - bengklòchsonnen - beng,beng,bengbengbeng. Beng!woy,mwentande, - tande -
of drum for a deep sound.
&bbbbb
All the children are free, teachers are dead tired.
Nantout 17
&bbbbb
timoun - deli - vre,- pwofe - sè- kra ze- rak.
& ‹ bbbbb...
?bbbbb.
timoun - deli - vre,- pwofe - sè- kra ze- rak. Nantout beng,o,o,mwentande - beng,o,o,woy,woy.Touttimoun - deli - vre,- pwofe - sè- kraze - rak. beng,o,o,mwentande - beng,o,o,woy,woy.Touttimoun - deli - vre,- pwofe - sè- kraze - rak.
T.
B.
Djm.
Cga.
S. A.
T. B.
Djm.
Cga.
Cga.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited by law.
In every corner of the country, school is out!
All the pilgrims are ready; it’s Fèt Chanpèt season!
kwen,nantoutkwenpeyi - a,- dènie - lekòl - lage. - Tout mf pèle - ren- pare, - sesezon - FètChanpèt! -
& ‹ bbbbb
kwen,nantoutkwenpeyi - a,- dènie - lekòl - lage. - Tout mf pèle - ren- pare, - sesezon - FètChanpèt!Tout mf pèle - ren- pare, - sese zon- FètChanpèt!f espressivo
?bbbbb / / &bbbbb-
Le kòl - la...lage! - Tout mf pèle - ren- pare, - sese zon- FètChanpèt! -
The feast has begun, celebrations everywhere!
Come and see! > All the pilgrims are ready; .
woy!Banbòch - lakòman - se,- toupa - tou- sebèlfèt!Tande! - Toutpèle - ren- pa25
woy!Banbòch - lakòman - se,- toupa - tou- sebèlfèt!Tande! - Toutpèle - ren- pa-
Banbòch - lakòman - se,- otoupa - tou- sebèlfèt!woy!Toutpèle - ren- pa -
Banbòch - lakòman - se,- otoupa - tou- sebèlfèt!woy!Toutpèle - ren- pa -
B.
Djm.
Cga.
S.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
re,- sesezon - FètChanpèt, - ouwoy! - woy! woy!Sezon - FètChanpèt, - toupa - tou- sebèlfèt!
re,- sesezon - FètChanpèt, - ouwoy! - woy! woy!Sezon - FètChanpèt, - toupa - tou- sebèlfèt!
re,- sesezon - FètChanpèt, - ouwoy! - woy! woy!Sezon - FètChanpèt, - toupa - tou- sebèlfèt!
re,- sesezon - FètChanpèt, - ouwoy! - woy! woy!Sezon - FètChanpèt, - toupa - tou- sebèlfèt!
mf dolce beng, sebengbengbeng,mwentande. - ou woy! -
Beng, mf dolce beng,seFètChanpèt - sebengbengbeng,mwentande. - ou woy! - Tan
Beng, mf dolce beng,seFètChanpèt, - sebengbengbeng,mwentande.
G/b. Beng, mf dolce beng, sebengbengbeng,mwentande. - Anpil - moundeba
B.
Djm.
Cga.
S. A.
T.
B.
Djm.
Cga.
Cga.
G/b. ke- nanLakou - Migon(g) - ga;- ouwoy, - woy,
Cga.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
G/b. La p kou- Migon(g) - ga. - Pa mf pa- akgranpaMarcatoE 41 pèt- nanLakou - Migong - ga, - ouwo, - ouwo, - ouwo, - beng! pèt- nanLakou - Migong - ga. - Beng, mp beng,beng,beng, pèt- nanLakou - Migong - ga. - Nan mp marcato Lakou - Migon - ga,mp
Fathers and grandfathers,
Cga.
at Lakou Migonga.
brothers and sisters are gathered,
neighbors and friends - all as one family.
G/b. pa,- frèaksèreyi - ni, - vwazi - nay- akzanmi' - o,noutoutf onsèlfan44 Beng, mp beng. Tande, - tande. - o,o,o,o! beng,beng,beng,beng,beng,beng,tande, - o, mp o,noutoutf onsèlfanLakou - Migon - ga.- NanLakou - Migon - ga- o, noutoutf onsèlfan
Cga.
G/b.
Cga.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
mi.- Papa - akgranpapa, - frèaksèreyi - ni, - wi,tout cresc. saseli-
Beng mp beng,beng, beng,beng,beng,wi,tout cresc. saseli-
G/b.
& ‹ bbbbb .
mi.- Pa mf pa- kagranpapa, - frèaksèreyi - ni, - wi,tout cresc. saseli-
mi.- o,o! Nan mf marcato
- Migon - ga,-
Lakou - Migon - ga.-
Yes, these are the cherished customs of Haiti.
&bbbbb
Breadfruit, millet, peeled sugarcane pass from hand to hand,
zay'- onanPeyi - d'Ayi - ti. ff -mp - Kann mf kale - fèkenken. -
zay'- onanPeyi - d'Ayi - ti. ff
?bbbbb cresc.
mpzay'- onanPeyi - d'Ayi - ti. ff -mpwoy,woy, La ff molto espress. ba- pen,- piti - mi,- kannkale! -
Djm.
Lakou
S.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
Mangos and avocados tumble all day long.
Breadfruit, millet, peeled sugarcane pass from hand to hand,
kannkale
kannkale!
Cga.
G/b.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited by law.
tumble all day long!
ton f be- toutlajou - nen!- o Anpil - moundeba - ke - nanLakou - Migon(g)
ton f be- toutlajou - nen!- o,ou mf woy!- Tande, - tande, - tan-
ton f be- toutlajou - nen!- o,ou mf woy!- Tande, - tande, - tan-
ton f be- toutlajou - nen!- o,ou mf woy!- Tande, - tande, - tanp mf p mf
are falling all day long!
- Sesezon - FètChanpèt, - sesezon - FètChanpèt, - o,o! Nan
On the eve, wood fires crackle, tomorrow, the ten o’clock Mass. Cheers to Saint James the Great!
G/b.
jè!- o. beng,beng,benggen - den- gen- deng,- beng,beng,woy, se mp espress.
FètChan -
Toutmounapcele - bre:- VivlaSenJakMajè! - woy, mp espress.
seFètChan -
jè!- beng, p beng,beng,beng,beng,benggen - den- gen- deng,- beng,beng, woy, mf espress.
Everyone’s celebrating: .. Cheers to Saint James the Great! ... . .It’s Fèt Chanpèt! &bbbbb& ‹ bbbbb......... .... --?bbbbb .
seFètChan-
jè!- o. beng, p beng,benggen - den- gen- deng,- beng,beng,woy. mf espress. Ouf mp f mp
What a beautiful season, nothing but joy, nothing but celebration! -&bbbbb -& ‹ bbbbb- -?bbbbb/ /
pèt! mf - A dolcissimo la- yonbèlepòk'poco o, selajwa,selaI 75 pèt! mf - A dolcissimo la- yonbèlepòk'poco o, selajwa,selapèt!- A dolcissimo la- yonbèlepòk, - ala - yonbèlepòk'poco o, selajwa,selawoy!- a dolcissimo la- yonbèlepòk, - ala - yonbèlepòk'poco o, Selajwa,selap &bbbbb
B.
Djm.
Cga.
S. A. T. B.
Djm.
Cga.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
After Plaine-du-Nord, it's Limonade's turn. -
Cga.
G/b.
fèt'- o.
Apre - LaPlèndi - nò, - setoupa - Limo
Cga.
G/b.
& ‹ bbbbb
fèt'- o.
Apre - LaPlèndi - nò, - setoupa - Limo
fèt.- Apre - LaPlèndi - nò - setoupa - Limo
?bbbbb > -/ / / &bbbbb
fèt.- Apre - LaPlèndi - nò, - apre - LaPlèndi - nò, - se toupa - Limo
SeFètChanpèt' - o. J 83
nad'- o.
It’s Fèt Chanpèt! &bbbbb. >
nad'- o. Se bring out FètChan pèt. Sezon -
nad'- o.Sesezon - FètChanpèt, - sesezon - FètChanpèt, - sesezon - FètChan&bbbbb.
& ‹ bbbbb. ?bbbbb / / /
nad'- o.
SeFètChanpèt' - o. Se
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited by law.
We are all singing,
Sezon - FètChan pèt' f - o. p A mp la- yonbèlepòk' - o.Nou mp espress. tout n ape - chanrit. c. q = 104 rall. K
FètChan pèt' f - o. p A mp la- yonbèlepòk' - o.Nou mp espress. tout n ape - chan-
sezon - FètChan pèt'f o. p A mf la- yonbèlepòk' - o.Nou mp espress. toutn ape - chanpèt,- seFètChan pèt' f - o. p A mf la- yonbèlepòk' - o.Nou mp espress. toutn ape - chan-
te,- n ape - rele:f Beng! sub. mp e = e rit.
Slower ( c. q = 90 )
“Beng, beng, beng!"
- n ape - re
mp beng,beng! te,- n ape - re le: f - Beng! sub. mp te,- n ape - re le: f - Beng, sub. mp beng,beng,beng,beng, n aprele
- Beng!
An pp noufete - jouksakaba.98
Cga. beng,beng!
Let's celebrate until the very end. ..... . . ∑ We party! &bbbbb
S. A. T. B.
Djm.
Cga.
chan mp te,- rele,101 beng, beng,beng, beng n ape - chante, - n ape - chante, - n ape - rele - beng,beng,beng! woy!n apchante - beng,beng,beng!woy!n aprele - beng,beng,beng! &bbbbb.>
An pp noufete - jouksakaba. - beng, mp beng,beng,n apfete, - fete, -
An pp noufete - jouksakaba. - n a mp lightly pe- fete - n ape - fete -
n aprele - beng,o.An pp noufete - jouksakaba. - Beng, mp n apfete - beng,beng,beng! p
We sing! We cheer! &bbbbb.
Cga.
G/b.
103
Cga.
G/b.
The bell rings -“beng”!
“Beng, beng, beng!" We cheer! &bbbbb
beng! mf espress. beng! bengen - deng,-
beng,beng,beng,woy,woy,klòchsonnen - beng! mf espress. beng, beng,beng,bengen - deng,-
beng klòchsonnen - beng, mf espress.
beng,beng,beng,beng,beng,woy,n aprele - beng!
beng,beng, klòchsonnen - beng!Beng, mf espress.
beng,beng,beng,beng,beng,woy,n aprele - beng!
poco a poco accel. al "O" poco a poco accel. al "O" 106
We sing!
The bell rings -“beng”!
beng! bendeng, - bendeng, - beng, woy,woy,klòchlasonnen - beng,woy, woy,
beng,beng, beng, woy,woy,klòchlasonnen - beng, beng,
Beng,woy,n apchante - beng,obengbeng,woy,woy,klòchlasonnen - beng, beng,beng,beng,beng,
Beng,woy,n apchante - beng,obengbeng,woy,woy,klòchlasonnen - beng, beng,beng,beng,beng,
B.
Djm.
S.
B.
Djm.
G/b.
This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
We cheer!
We sing!
beng,woy,woy, bengbengbengbeng,klòchlasonnen - beng,woou - wo!109
&bbbbb
& ‹ bbbbb
The bell rings -“beng”!
Djm.
Cga.
G/b.
beng,beng,bengen - deng,- beng, klòchlasonnen - beng,woy,woy,klòchlasonnen -
?bbbbb.
bengwoy,n aprele - beng!Beng,woy, n apchante - beng,obengbeng,woy,woy,klòchlasonnen -
/ / &bbbbb>
We cheer! .
We sing! &bbbbb.
& ‹ bbbbb
bengwoy,n aprele - beng!Beng,woy, n apchante - beng,obengbeng,woy,woy,klòchlasonnen -
beng,ouwoy! - beng,beng,ouwoy! - bengen - deng,- bengbengbengbengklòchlasonnenN 112
beng,woou - wo- beng,beng,woou - wo- bengen - deng,- beng, klòchlasonnenbeng,beng,beng,beng,beng,bengwoy,n aprele - beng!Beng,woy, n apchante - beng,o
?bbbbb.
beng,beng,beng,beng,beng,bengwoy,n aprele - beng!Beng,woy, n apchante - beng,o &bbbbb
