Kanaval
(Haitian Creole – English Poetic Translation)
Leve, leve, leve li jou… jodia se kanaval! An n rasanble, an n selebre… Souke tchatcha, danse Rara… Leve, leve, leve li jou… jodia se kanaval!
Timoun yo degize, granmoun yo eksite, Madigra, chaloska ap defile, Ala yon bèl epòk, Moun anwo, moun anba fè yon sèl… Se kanaval! Kanaval la rive!
Avanse… pa frape! Pa pouse! Sote, ponpe jan ou vle, Kale dada w, danse jan w vle… Se kanaval!
Mezanmi pa gen manti nan sa, se fete n ap fete, Mereng yo byen chofe, gade kijan n kontan! Mezanmi pa gen manti nan sa, se fete n ap fete, Tout moun ap banboche, gade kijan n kontan!
Timoun yo degize, granmoun yo eksite, Madigra, chaloska ap defile… Se kanaval!
Mete de men anlè! (ou-we!)
Mete drapo anlè!
Mete mouchwa anlè! Kanaval la rive!
Chak ane s on randevou, Twa jou lanmou, twa jou lajwa.
Chak ane s on bèl plezi, Se yon bèl fèt nan Peyi d’Ayiti.
Men nan men san prejije, Se konsa pou nou fete.
Men nan men san prejije, Se konsa n a va rive. (zimboyo!)
Yon ti bese, tout moun f on ti bese! Yon ti monte, tout moun f on ti monte!
Kanaval Ayiti… se la pou w la!
Ka-ka-ka-ka-Kanaval Ayiti… pa di betiz!
Kanaval… ou paka pa la! Se la pou w la!
Text by: Sydney Guillaume & Martine Joseph
Wake up, wake up, the day has come… today is Carnaval! Let us gather and celebrate… Shake that shaker, dance that Rara… Wake up, wake up, the day has come… today is Carnaval!
The young ones are disguised, the grown-ups are excited, Madigra* and C haloska* are parading, What a beautiful season, People on top and people below are united It’s Carnaval! Carnaval time is here!
Move forward no hitting! No pushing! Jump up and down as you want, Loosen up, dance however you want… it’s Carnaval!
Yo, this is for real, this party is on, The songs are hot, look how happy we are! Yo, this is for real, this party is on, Everyone is ecstatic, look how happy we are!
The young ones are disguised, the grown-ups are excited, Madigra and Chaloska are parading… it’s Carnaval!
Put your hands in the air! (hooray!)
Flags up in the air!
Handkerchiefs in the air! Carnaval time is here!
Every year it’s a rendez-vous, Three days of love, three days of joy. Every year it’s a blast, It’s a beautiful party in the c ountry of Haiti.
Hand in han d without prejudice, That is how we should celebrate. Hand in hand without discrimination, That is how we will make it. (zimboyo!)
Get down, get down… everybody get down! Get up, get up… everybody get up!
Carnaval of Haiti… Kinda have to be there!
Ca-ca-ca-ca-Carnaval of Haiti… No bad words please!
Kanaval… You can’t miss it! You gotta be there!
*Chaloska - (Charles Oscar) a character parading in Haitian carnavals.
*Madigra – a person in costume at a carnival parade; masquerade
Like in many other countries, Haiti has a carnival season that is intensely celebrated with three huge party days that end on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) In 2011, the last president of Haiti who happened to be one of the country’s top pop stars, decided to have two carnival seasons. I benefited from that in the summer of 2014 when I experienced the summer Carnaval Des Fleurs in Port-au-Prince. This was after 20 years since the last time I went to a carnival. It was one of my favorite moments in Haiti that summer. The decorations, the music, the joy of the people, the Rara bands, the costumes, the floats… they all inspired me to write a choral piece about one of the greatest treasures of the Haitian culture, its “Kanaval”.
-Sydney Guillaume
Sydney Guillaume & Martine Joseph
Toum
Cabasa, Shaker, SnareDrum
Sydney Guillaume
gou- doum,- tougou - doum,- timpaw. - Tougou - doum,- tougou - doum,- timpaw. -
-goudoum, - tougou - -doum,timpaw.
tougou - doum,- timpaw.
S2.
Shake that shaker and dance that Rara... today is Carnaval!
Conga
The young ones are disguised,
The grown-ups are excited,
moun- yo degi - ze,- granmoun - yo, granmoun - yo eksi - te,-
moun- yo degi - ze,- granmoun - yo, granmoun - yo eksi - te,-
timoun - yodegi - ze,- granmoun - yo,granmoun - yogranmoun - yo,granmoun - yoeksi - te,-
timoun - yodegi - ze,- granmoun - yo,granmoun - yogranmoun - yo,granmoun - yoeksi - te,-
Madigra and Chaloska are parading,
What a beautiful season,
madi - gra,- madi - gra,- chalos - ka - apdefi - le,- ala - yonbèlepòk, - mounan-
madi - gra,- madi - gra,- chalos - ka - apdefi - le,- ala - yonbèlepòk, - mounanmadi - gra,- madi - gra,- madi - gra,- chalos - ka- apdefi - le,- ala - yonbèlepòk, - mounanmadi - gra,- madi - gra,- madi - gra,- chalos - ka- apdefi - le,- ala - yonbèlepòk, - mounan-
S1. S2.
A1.
A2. Cab.
Conga
S1.
S2.
A1.
A2. Cab.
People on top and people below are united.
wo,- mounanba - fèyonsèl.Timoun - yo,
The young ones are disguised,
timoun - yo degi - ze,-
wo,- mounanba - fèyonsèl.Timoun - yo, timoun - yo degi - ze,wo,- mounanba - fèyonsèl.Timoun - yo, timoun - yo degi - ze,-
wo,- mounanba - fèyonsèl.Timoun - yo, timoun - yo, timoun - yodegi - ze,-
The grown-ups are excited,
granmoun - yo, granmoun - yo,granmoun - yo eksi - te,- madi - gra,- he!madi - gra,- cha-
granmoun - yo, granmoun - yo,granmoun - yo eksi - te,- madi - gra,- he!madi - gra,- chagranmoun - yo, granmoun - yo eksi - te,- madi - gra,- he!madi - gra,- chagranmoun - yo, granmoun - yo, granmoun
yoeksi - te,- madi - gra,
he!madi - gra,
cha
A1.
A2. Cab.
Conga
S1. S2.
A1.
A2.
Shk.
Conga
Madigra and Chaloska are parading,
los- ka- apdefi - le,- sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!- Ka na- val- lari ve! f - woy,woy, (adlib)
It's Carnaval! Carnaval time is here!
los- ka- apdefi - le,- sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!- Ka na- val- lari ve! f - woy,woy,
los- ka- apdefi - le,- sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!- Ka na- val- lari ve! f - woy,woy,
los- ka- apdefi - le,- sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!- Ka na- val- lari ve! f - woy,woy, f
Move forward... no hitting! No pushing!
A van- se,- pafrape! - Pa p pouse, - papouse, - papouse! -
van- se,- pafrape! - Pa p pouse, - papouse, - papouse!
A1.
A2. Shk.
Conga
S1. S2.
A1. A2. Shk.
Conga
mp van- se,- papouse! - (optional:fromonesingerunpitchedwhistle-like soundfrombeat2to downbeatofF.
S1. S2.
PERUSALSCORE
A1. A2. Cow.
Conga
S1. S2.
A1.
A2. Cow.
. The songs are hot - look how happy we are!
sekana - val, - o ga mf de- kijan n - kontan! - Mezan - mi- pagenmanti - nan
zopo - pe!- ga mf de- kijan n - kontan! - Mezan - mi- pagenmanti - nan
Poudoum - podo - po- pe,- podo. - Poudoum, - Pou mf doum- podo - po- pe,- podo,te, - mereng - yobyencho fe, - gade - kijan n - kontan! - woy,woy,woy,
Everyone is ecstatic, look how happy we are!
sa,sefete - n apfe te, - toutmounapbanbo - che, - gade - kijan n - kon-
sa,sefete - n apfe te, - toutmounapbanbo - che, - gade - kijan n - kon
Poudoum - podo - po- pe,- podo, - Poudoum - podo - po- pe,- podo. - Poudoum,woy,woy,woy,woy,woy,woy,woy,anmwe! - gade - kijan n - kon-
A1.
A2. Cow.
Conga
S1. S2.
A1. A2. Cow.
Conga
The young ones are disguised,
Madigra and Chaloska are parading,
It's Carnaval!
The grown-ups are excited,
- gra,- he!madi - gra,- chalos - ka
apdefi - le,- sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!madi - gra,- he!madi - gra,- chalos - ka- apdefi - le,- sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!-
S2.
A1. A2. Cow.
Conga
S1. S2.
Put your hands in the air! (hooray!)
Sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!- Zopo - dop- pop- pe!- ou-
Sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!- Zopo - dop- pop- pe!- Mete - demenanlè! -
Sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!-
Mete - demenanlè! -
Sekana - val,- sekana - val,- sekana - val!-
Mete - demenanlè! -
Flags up in the air! (hooray!) Handkerchiefs in the air! Carnaval time is here!
Mete - drapo - anlè! - Mete - mouchwa - anlè! - ouwe! - Kana - val- lari-
Mete - drapo - anlè! - Mete - mouchwa - anlè! - ouwe! - Kana - val- lari-
Mete - drapo - anlè! - Mete - mouchwa - anlè! - ouwe! - Kana - val- lari-
Conga we!- ouwe! - ouwe! - Kana - val- lari-
S1. S2.
A1. A2. Cow.
Conga
S1. S2.
A1. A2. Cow.
Randomcheersandlaughter.Endsatm.80
Randomcheersandlaughter.Endsatm.80
Randomcheersandlaughter.Endsatm.83at"he!he!"
Every year it's a rendez-vous,
Randomcheersandlaughter.Endsatm.83at"he!he!"
(swithtoshaker)
Three days of love, three days of joy.
Every year it's a blast,
rande - vou,- Chaka ne, - s on
Twa f joulanmou, - twajoula jwa.hehe!Twa f joulanmou, - twajoula jwa.hehe!
Conga bèlple zi,- Mwendi,mwendi;Chaka ne - s on
Every year it's a rendez-vous,
Se mf yonbelfètnanPeyi - d'Ayi - ti. - eou - we,- ouwe,Se mf yonbelfètnanPeyi - d'Ayi - ti. - eou - we,- ouwe,Se mf yonbelfètnanPeyi - d'Ayi - ti.
Three days of love, three days of joy.
Every year it's a blast,
rande - vou,- Chaka ne, - s on
eou - we,- ouwe, - Twajoulanmou, - twajoula jwa.hehe! - eou - we,- ouwe,eou
we,
ouwe, - Twajoulanmou, - twajoula jwa.hehe!
eou
we,
ouwe,
A1.
A2.
Hand in hand without prejudice,
That is how we should celebrate.
A1.
A2. Cab.
That is how we will make it.
pre,sanpre,sanpre,sanpreji - je, - konsa - n ava - ri
Sekon sa - n a zimbo - yo! - Sekon sa - n a wo,- doumba, - doumba. - Doumba, - doumba, - doumbazimbo - yo!
Check this out!
A1.
A2. Cab.
Conga
Blop! f Tigi
Blop! f Tigi
Blop! f
Blop! f Tigi
A1.
A2. Cab.
Conga
S1.
S2.
A1. A2. Cab.
po!- Toutmounf ontibese.
Getdown,getdown...everybodygetdown! - bese, - bese, - bese, - toutmounf ontibese, - bese, - f ontibe-
po!- Bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - f ontibe-
po!- Tibese, - tibese, - tibese, - tibe - se,- tibese, - tibese, - tibese, - f ontibe - -
po!- Bese, - bese, - toutmounf ontibese, - bese, - bese, - bese, - toutmounf ontibese, - be-
Conga se. p - Tigi - dim- blop,- tigi - dim- blo,- poppo, - tigi - dim-
blop,
S2.
A1.
A2.
Cab.
Conga
S1.
S2.
A1.
A2. Cab.
blop(pahh)
blop(pahh)
Get up, get up... everybody get up!
Toutmounf ontimonte, - monte, - monte, - mon te,
- toutmoun
tout
A1.
A2. Cab.
Conga
S1. S2.
te!- monte, - monte, - monte, - toutmounf ontimonte, - mon f te,- monte, - mon-
te,- monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - mon-
te,- timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - timonmounf ontimonte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - toutmounf ontimonte, - mon-
te,- toutmounf ontimonte, - toutmounf ontimon te! ff - zo po- dop- popo - po!-
te,- monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - f ontimonte! ff - zo po- dop
popo - po!-
zopo - do- po- po!-
zopo - do
po
po!te,- timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - f ontimonte! ff - zo po
&bbb
te,- monte, - monte,
toutmounf ontimonte,
monte!
A1.
A2.
Cab.
Conga
S1. S2.
A1.
Blop!zo
Blop!zo po
*(optional)tutti:handclaporfootstompondownbeat.
(toSnareDrum)
Carnaval of Haiti... kinda have to be there!
f lapou wla,selapou wla!
f lapou wla,selapou wla!
woy!woy!Selapou wla,selapou wla!woy!woy!Selapou wla,selapou wla! woy!woy!Selapou wla,selapou wla!woy!woy!Selapou wla,selapou wla!
A1. A2. Cab.
S1.
S2.
A1. A2.
SnareDrum
Kana - val- Ayi - ti,- kaka - ka- ka- Kana - val- Ayi - ti,- kaka - ka- ka-
woy!woy!Selapou wla,selapou wla!woy!woy!Padibetiz, - padibetiz!woy!woy!Selapou wla,selapou wla!woy!woy!Padibetiz, - padibetiz! -
woy! woy! Padibetiz,
podo
woy! woy! Padibetiz,
A1.
A2.
S.D.
Conga
S1.
S2.
A1.
A2.
S.D. Conga
Conga
Paw! zo mf po- pe!- zo cresc. po- pe!- Oupaka - pa q=q T 163
paw!- ta mf ka- toumbo - doum, cresc. - taka - toum- bo - doum, - taka - toumbo
paw!- zo mf po- dop- pe! - zo cresc. po- dop- pe! - Oupaka - pa-
paw!ta mf ka- toumbo - doum, cresc. - taka - toum- bo - doum, - taka - toumbo
A1. A2. S.D.
S1.
Kanaval
[ ˈkanaval ]
PERUSALSCORE
Leve, leve, leve li jou… Jodia se kanaval!
[ ˈleve ˈleve ˈleve li ʒu ʒoˈdzia se ˈkanaval ]
An n rasanble, an n selebre…
[ ˈãn ˈrasãble ãn ˈselebre ]
Souke tchatcha, danse Rara…
[ ˈsuke tʃaˈtʃa ˈdãse ra ˈ ra ]
Leve, leve, leve li jou… Jodia se kanaval!
[ ˈleve ˈleve ˈleve li ʒu ʒoˈdzia se ˈkanaval ]
Timoun yo degize, granmoun yo eksite,
[ ˈtsimun jo ˈdegize grãˈmun jo ˈeksite ]
Madigra, chaloska ap defile,
[ ˈmadzigra ʃaˈloska ap ˈdefile ]
Ala yon bèl epòk,
[ ˈala jõ bɛl e ˈpɔk ]
Moun anwo, moun anba fè yon sèl…
[ mun ‿ ãˈwo mun ‿ ãˈba fɛ jõ sɛl ]
Se kanaval! Kanaval la rive!
[ se ˈkanaval ˈkanaval la riˈve ]
Avanse… pa frape! Pa pouse!
[ ˈavãse pa fraˈpe pa puˈse ]
Sote, ponpe jan ou vle,
[ ˈsote ˈpõpe ʒã u vle ]
Kale dada w, danse jan w vle… Se kanaval!
[ ˈkale dada u ˈdãse ʒã u vle se ˈkanaval ]
Mezanmi pa gen manti nan sa, se fete n ap fete,
[ ˈmezãmi pa gɛ̃ mãˈtsi nã sa se ˈfete nap ˈfete ]
Mereng yo byen chofe, gade kijan n kontan!
[ me ˈrɛ̃g jo bjɛ̃ ʃoˈfe ˈgade kiˈʒãn kõˈtã ]
Mezanmi pa gen manti nan sa, se fete n ap fete, (anmwe!)
[ ˈmezãmi pa gɛ̃ mãˈtsi nã sa se ˈfete nap ˈfete ãˈmwe ]
Tout moun ap banboche, gade kijan n kontan!
[ tut mun ap bãboˈʃe ˈgade kiˈʒãn kõˈtã ]
Timoun yo degize, granmoun yo eksite,
[ ˈtsimun jo ˈdegize grãˈmun jo ˈeksite ]
Madigra (he), chaloska ap defile…
Se kanaval!
[ ˈmadzigra he ʃaˈloska ap ˈdefile se ˈkanaval ]
Mete de men anlè!
[ ˈmete de mɛ̃ ãˈlɛ ]
Mete drapo anlè!
[ ˈmete draˈpo ãˈlɛ ]
Mete mouchwa anlè! (ou-we!)
[ ˈmete muˈʃua ãˈlɛ ] [ uˈwe ]
Kanaval la rive!
[ ˈkanaval la riˈve ]
Chak ane s on randevou,
[ ˈʃak ane sõ ˈrãdevu ]
Twa jou lanmou, twa jou lajwa (he-he!)
[ ˈtua ʒu ˈlãmu tua ʒu laˈʒwa ] [ he he ]
Chak ane s on bèl plezi,
[ ˈʃak‿ane sõ bɛl ˈplezi ]
Se yon bèl fèt nan Peyi d’Ayiti.
[ se jõ bɛl fɛt nã peˈji ˈdajitsi ]
Men nan men san prejije,
[ mɛ̃ nã mɛ̃ sã ˈpreʒiʒe ]
Se konsa pou nou fete.
[ se kõˈsa pu nu feˈte ]
Men nan men san prejije,
[ mɛ̃ nã mɛ̃ sã ˈpreʒiʒe ]
Se konsa n a va rive. (zimboyo!)
[ se kõˈsa na va riˈve ] [ ˈzimbojo ]
Tande sa [ ˈtãde sa ]
Yon ti bese, tout moun f on ti bese!
[ ˈjõ tsi beˈse tut mun fõ tsi beˈse ]
Yon ti monte, tout moun f on ti monte!
[ ˈjõ tsi mõˈte tut mun fõ tsi mõˈte ]
Kanaval Ayiti… se la pou w la!
[ ˈkanaval ˈajitsi se la pu‿u la ]
Ka-ka-ka-ka-Kanaval Ayiti… pa di betiz!
[ kakakaka ˈkanaval ˈajitsi pa dzi beˈtsiz ]
Kanaval… ou paka pa la! Se la pou w la!
[ ˈkanaval u ˈpaka pa la se la pu‿u la ]
For an audio pronunciation guide and individual practice tracks, go to: sydneyguillaume.com/practice-tracks
Non-sense syllables Onomatopoeias
Tougoudoum, tougoudoum timpaw
[ ˈtugudum ˈtugudum tsimˈpau ]
Koudougoudou-goudougoudoum timpaw
[ ˈkudugudugudugudum tsimˈpau ]
ou-wo, ou-woy, yeleileo, yeleileo zipidimbo
[ uˈwo uˈwoi jeˈleile‿o jeˈleile‿o ˈzipidimbo ]
Poudoum podopope podo
[ ˈpudum podopoˈpe ˈpodo ]
Zopodop-poppe.
[ zopodopˈpop pe ]
Zopope
[ ˈ zopope ]
Ou-we, wel-le, ou-wel-le, e-ou-we, woy!
[ u‿ˈwe ˈwel le u‿ˈwel le e ˈ u we woi ]
PERUSALSCORE
Doumba, doumbo
[ ˈdumba ˈdumbo ] zigadimba doumba doumba [ zigaˈdimba ˈdumba ˈdumba ] zigadimba doumba doumbo
[ zigaˈdimba ˈdumba ˈdumbo ]
Zimboyo. ou-wa, ou-wa-a, paw [ ˈzimbojo ] [ uˈwa u ˈ wa a pau ]
Takatoumbodoum, zigidimblop.
[ takatumboˈdum zigidimˈblop ]
Blop tigidim blop tigidimblo pop-po
[ blop ˈtsigidim blop ˈtsigidimblo pop‿po ]
Tigidimblo-po zopodop-po, tigidim blop
[ ˈtsigidimblo po zopoˈdop po ˈtsigidim blop ]
Zopodop-pe… zopodopodopopo.
[ zopoˈdop pe zopoˈdopodopopo ]
For an audio pronunciation guide and individual practice tracks, go to: sydneyguillaume.com/practice-tracks