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to the harmonic similarity between compositions that hold more com- style. The Haitian Creole text would
the parts. 4 plex intervals between the voices likely be diffi cult for most non-na-
Young singers may have diffi culty and feature oblique and contrary tive speakers, so conductors should

hearing the difference between the motion. Peyi Mwen, a Haitian song anticipate spending a good amount
voices if they are aurally not pre- by Pierre Rigaud Chéry & Yves La- of rehearsal time working text. Peyi
pared or if they learn completely by vaud and arranged by Sydney Guil- Mwen is challenging in language,
rote. This can mitigated if this type laume, displays this more advanced rhythm, and duration, so adequate
of repertoire is taught on solfege or voicing still within a homophonic preparatory work and time must be
in a literacy-forward manner. It is setting. While lengthy, the piece is dedicated to ensure mastery of the
also helpful if the two voices begin in repetitive and has many moments work while still maintaining the en-
unison and then break out into parts, of unison between the voices, which joyment of the process (Figure 6 on
allowing the students to visually see would allow a chorus to “check back page 62).
the contour of their line compared in” with each other before again Once an ensemble is comfort-
to the other. moving away in harmony. There able with part-singing, a conductor
Once a choir has mastered par- are a few moments of polyphonic may look for a varied piece of mu-
allel motion with more expected singing, but these are composed in sic which features moments of all of
harmonies, conductors can look to a comprehensible call-and-response the elements discussed above: uni-

Crescent City Choral Festival

A FESTIVAL FOR TREBLE AND MIXED CHOIRS – 2022

2022 – June 24-28

Cheryl Dupont, Artistic Director
Guest Artist, Tom Shelton
sponsored by the
New Orleans Children’s Chorus
• open to all treble and mixed choirs representing
Cheryl school, church, and community, by audition
Dupont
• accepting applications now
• performance in St. Louis Cathedral;
hotel near the French Quarter

You’ll fall in love with New Orleans!

Tom Shelton
For more information:
New Orleans Children’s Chorus
5580 Canal Boulevard, Suite A
New Orleans, LA 70124
Outstanding music-making and great FUN! (504) 482-2883
nocc787@bellsouth.net
www.neworleanshildrenschorus.org

CHORAL JOURNAL June/July 2021 Volume 61 Number 11 61