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 Chaloska* are parading, What a beautiful season, People on top and people below are united It’s Carnaval! Carnaval time is here!
Move forward no hiting! No pushing! Jump up and down as you want, Lossen 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 grownups are excited, Madigra and Chaloska are parading… it’s Carnaval!
Put your hands in the air! (hooray!)
Flags up in the air! Hanckershiefs 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 country of Haiti.
Hand in hand 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
Shaker, SnareDrum
Sydney Guillaume
Let us gather and celebrate... today is Carnaval!
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-
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
S2.
Madigra and Chaloska are parading,
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, 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!
van- se,- pafrape! - Pa p pouse, - papouse, - papouse! - zi
ponpe - janouvle,
van- se,- pafrape! - Pa p pouse, - papouse,
Shk. Conga
Conga
Moveforward...nopushing! A mp van- se,- papouse!Loosenup,dancehoweveryouwant...it'sCarnaval!
A mp van- se,- papouse! - (optional:fromonesingerunpitchedwhistle-like soundfrombeat2to downbeatofF.
mp van- se,- papouse! - Pou mf
Conga zopo - pe!- zopo - pe!- zopo - pe!-
Sekana - val, - sekana - val, - sekana - val, -
&bbb
Poudoum - podo - po- pe,- podo, - Poudoum - podo - po- pe,- podo, - Poudoum - podo - po- pe,- podo. -
Poudoum - podo - po,- ouwoy, - woy,woy,woy, ou woy, - ou-
It's Carnaval, jump up and down!
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-
The young ones are disguised,
The grown ups are excited,
tan!- Timoun - yo degi - ze,- granmoun - yo, granmoun - yo,granmoun - yo eksi - te,-
tan!- Timoun - yo degi - ze,- granmoun - yo, granmoun - yo,granmoun - yo eksi - te,-
Timoun - yo, timoun - yo degi - ze,- granmoun - yo, granmoun - yo eksi - te,-
tan!- o granmoun - yo, o
madi - 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!- zopo - pe.-
madi - 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!-
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! -
Carnaval time is here!
we!- ouwe! - ouwe! - Kana - val- lari-
Mete - drapo - anlè! - Mete - mouchwa - anlè! - ouwe! - Kana - val- lari-
Mete - drapo - anlè! - Mete - mouchwa - anlè! - ouwe! - Kana - val- lari-
Mete - drapo - anlè! -
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,
Hand in hand without prejudice,
That is how we should celebrate.
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!
Blop! f Tigi
Blop! f Tigi
Blop! f Tigi
f
blop,
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,
blop(pahh)
blop(pahh)
Get up, get up... everybody get up!
Toutmounf ontimonte, - monte, - monte, - mon te, mf - toutmoun
-
mp - Timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - timon-
mp - Monte, - monte, - toutmounf ontimonte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - tout
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-
137 te,- monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - monte, - f ontimonte! ff - zo po
te,- timonte, - timonte, - timonte, - f ontimonte!
Conga te,- toutmounf ontimonte, - toutmounf ontimon te! ff - zo po
te,- monte, - monte, - toutmounf ontimonte,
monte!
dop- popo - po!-
zopo
popo
zopo
Carnaval of Haiti... kinda have to be there!
Blop!zo
Blop!zo
Blop!zo po- dop- popo - po!
*(optional)tutti:handclaporfootstompondownbeat.
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!
Kana - val- Ayi - ti,- kaka - ka- ka- Kana - val- Ayi - ti,- kaka - ka- ka-
Kana - val- Ayi - ti,- kaka - ka- ka- Kana - val- Ayi - ti,- kaka - ka- kawoy!woy!Selapou'wla,selapou'wla!woy!woy!Padibetiz, - padibetiz!woy!woy!Selapou'wla,selapou'wla!woy!woy!Padibetiz, - padibetiz! -
Kana
podo
woy! woy! Padibetiz,
padibetiz!
zopo
podo
po woy! woy! Padibetiz,
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