SKU: DY.DO-1522

ISBN 9782897963026.

Fran cis Bebey est né à Douala en juillet 1929, dans une grande famille où son père, pasteur, luttait pour nourrir ses enfants. Mais Francis a eu l'opportunité d'aller à l'école. Admirant son frère aîné, Marcel Eyidi Bebey, il s'est éduqué, s'est distingué, et a finalement reçu une bourse pour passer son baccalauréat en France.
Nous approchions de la fin des années 1950 lorsqu'il est arrivé à La Rochelle. Plus que jamais, dans cette France où les Africains étaient regardés avec curiosité, condescendance ou dédain, Francis s'appuyait sur ses ressources intellectuelles. Travailleur assidu, il a obtenu son baccalauréat, puis s'est installé à Paris où il a commencé des études d'anglais à la Sorbonne. Un jour, il a su ce qui l'attirait vraiment : il voulait faire de la radio. Francis a appris son métier en France et aux �tats-Unis.
Après avoir travaillé quelques années comme reporter, il a été embauché en 1961 en tant que fonctionnaire international au Département de l'information de l'UNESCO.
Parallèle ment, Francis a toujours été attiré par la création musicale. Son activité diurne très sérieuse ne l'empêchait pas de fréquenter les clubs de jazz le soir. � Paris, le jazz, la musique à la mode à cette époque, mais aussi la rumba et la salsa l'attiraient. Il collectionnait les disques et assistait à de nombreux concerts. Avec son complice Manu Dibango, Francis montait sur scène et jouait de la musique.
Francis aimait la musique classique depuis son enfance. Il avait grandi en écoutant les cantates et les oratorios de Bach ou Handel que son père chantait au temple. Il s'est passionné pour la guitare, impressionné par les maîtres espagnols et sud-américains, et a décidé d'apprendre à jouer de l'instrument lui-même.
Il a commencé à composer des pièces pour guitare, mêlant les diverses influences qui le traversaient avec la musique traditionnelle africaine qu'il portait en lui depuis son enfance. Son approche a captivé le directeur du Centre culturel américain (alors situé dans le quartier de Saint-Germain à Paris), qui lui a offert l'opportunité de se produire devant un public. Francis y a donné son premier récital de guitare (1963) devant un public hypnotisé. Son premier album solo est sorti peu de temps après.
Progressivem ent, Francis est devenu reconnu comme musicien et compositeur. Plusieurs albums de l'ambassadeur africain de la guitare, comme le décrivait la presse, sont sortis. Il a également écrit des livres, au point que sa carrière artistique est devenue difficile à concilier avec sa carrière de fonctionnaire. En 1974, même s'il était devenu le directeur général chargé de la musique à l'UNESCO, il a fait le saut audacieux et a démissionné de cette prestigieuse institution pour se consacrer aux trois activités qui l'intéressaient : la musique, la littérature et le journalisme.
Il a exploré le patrimoine musical traditionnel du continent africain, notamment à travers le piano à pouce sanza et la musique polyphonique des pygmées d'Afrique centrale, ou en chantant dans sa langue maternelle et en composant des chansons humoristiques en français !
Le succès a suivi. Francis Bebey a parcouru le monde : de la France au Brésil, du Cameroun à la Suède, de l'Allemagne aux Caraïbes, ou du Maroc au Japon... la liste des pays où il a été invité à se produire, à donner des conférences ou à rencontrer des lecteurs est très longue. En plus de la reconnaissance publique, il bénéficiait de la reconnaissance de ses collègues musiciens, tels que le guitariste John Williams ou le Vénézuélien Antonio Lauro, qui l'ont invité à faire partie du jury d'un concours de guitare classique à Caracas.
Sa vie était le voyage d'un pionnier africain, un homme enraciné dans son patrimoine culturel et portant un message de partage et d'espoir pour le monde. Son originalité continue de résonner dans le monde entier depuis son décès à la fin du mois de mai 2001.

Francis Bebey was born in Douala in July 1929, into a large family where his father, a pastor, struggled to feed his children. But Francis had the opportunity to go to school. Admiring his elder brother, Marcel Eyidi Bebey, he educated himself, distinguished himself, and eventually received a scholarship to go and take his baccalaureate in France.
We approached the end of the 1950s when he arrived in La Rochelle. More than ever, in this France where Africans were looked at with curiosity, condescension, or disdain, Francis relied on his intellectual resources. A diligent worker, he obtained his Baccalaureate, then moved to Paris where he started English studies at the Sorbonne. One day, he knew what truly attracted him: he wanted to do radio. Francis learned his craft in France and in the USA.
After working for a few years as a reporter, he was hired in 1961 as an international civil servant in the UNESCO Information Department.
In parallel, Francis had always been drawn to musical creation. His very serious daytime activity didnâ??t prevent him from frequenting jazz clubs in the evenings. In Paris, the Jazz, the trendy music of that time, but also rumba and salsa attracted him. He collected records and attended numerous concerts. With his accomplice Manu Dibango, Francis took the stage and played music.
Francis liked classical music since his childhood. He grew up listening to the cantatas and oratorios of Bach or Handel that his father had sung in the temple. He became passionate about the guitar, impressed by the Spanish and South American masters, and decided to learn to strum the instrument himself.
He started composing guitar pieces, blending the various influences that flow through him with the traditional African music he had carried within since childhood. His approach captivated the director of the American Cultural Center (then located in the Saint-Germain neighborhood of Paris), who offered him the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. Francis gave his first guitar recital there (1963) in front of a mesmerized audience. His first solo album was released shortly thereafter.
Gradually, Francis became recognized as a musician and composer. Several albums of the African guitar ambassador, as described by the press, were released. He also wrote books, to the point that his artistic career became challenging to reconcile with his career as a civil servant. In 1974, even though he had become the General Manager in charge of music at UNESCO, he took the bold leap and resigned from this prestigious institution to dedicated himself to the three activities that interested him: music, literature, and journalism.
He explored the traditional musical heritage of the African continent, notably through the thumb piano sanza, and the polyphonic music of the Central African pygmies, or singing in his native language and composing humoristic songs in French!
Success followed. Francis Bebey traveled the world: from France to Brazil, Cameroon to Sweden, Germany to the Carribean, or Morocco to Japan... the list of countries where he was invited to perform, gives lectures, or meets readers is very long. In addition to public recognition, he enjoyed the recognition of his fellow musicians, such as guitarist John Williams or Venezuelan Antonio Lauro, who invited him to be a part of the jury for a classical guitar competition in Caracas.
His life was the journey of an African pioneer, a man rooted in his cultural heritage and carrying a message of sharing and hope for the world. His originality continues to vibrate around the world since his passing at the end of May 2001.

SKU: AP.50190

UPC: 038081573601. English.

Everybody knows it's time for celebration. Everywhere you go, it's Christmastime again. All the children sing joyful songs in jubilation. Hear their voices ring, it's Christmastime again. Here's a delicate holiday ballad for 2-part choirs, brimming with cheerful imagery. Easy to learn and enjoyable to sing, this one is designed to come together quickly at the busiest time of year.

SKU: AP.28756

SKU: BT.9781408186985

ISBN 9781408186985. English.

Ukulele Magic is the perfect tutor for children and for teachers. Rock to ragtime, bluegrass to swing, tango, calypso and the blues - they're all here in instantly accessible songs to play straight away ~ whether solo, withfriends, or with the whole class. Fully supported by video tutorials and audio performances and backings.

The pupil's edition, BOOK CD, contains full audio performance and backing support and website video tutorials, makingit ideal for individual practice. The 25 pieces carefully progress from playing open strings (eg Stringalong Rag) to songs with one chord (Shortnin bread, A minor miracle, F major march) to two chords (Baboushka, Tab tango,Calypsostrum) and finally three chords (In South Africa, Playing the blues).

Finger-picking and strumming styles are all introduced step by step in pieces which are fun and stylistic. This is a thoroughly musical introduction toan immensely popular instrument, opening the way to independent music-making for all.

SKU: AP.44781

UPC: 038081516929. English. Traditional German Carols.

A terrific multicultural addition to any beginning holiday concert, this arrangement by Sandra Dackow is a spirited rendition of three traditional German carols. These contrasting carols---Lasst uns froh und munter sein, O Come Little Children, and an unnamed traditional tune---are a fun way to introduce cut time and reinforce bow lifts to young string players. (1:45).

About Orchestra Expressions

SKU: GI.G-9957

UPC: 785147995708. English. Text by Kazuaki Tanahashi.

In my opinion our world is currently in great need of reestablishing strong connections one to another, be it with family and friends, neighbors and strangers, nations and nations, or with those of different cultures and religions. In his important book, I and Thou, philosopher-theologian Martin Buber says that the most meaningful life is centered on relationship. As a musician, I felt compelled to express the I-THOU thesis through the human voice. In searching for the right words to express this sentiment, I was fortunate to find Kazuaki Tanahashi’s eloquent poem, “Encounter.” Mr. Tanahashi is a poet, Zen artist, scholar and peace activist.  This combined-voices version has been adapted from an SATB scoring that features prominently in the original song cycle, I-THOU, written for vocal quartet, commissioned and premiered in 2018 by Fourth Coast Ensemble in Chicago. —Wayland Rogers About the Series: Doreen Rao, 2019 Robert Shaw Award recipient, launches her culturally inclusive choral series, Global Encounters for Young Voices, featuring accessible treble- and mixed-voice works for developing choirs.

SKU: AP.38434

UPC: 038081438726. English. Traditional.

Santa takes his yearly ride to boys and girls everywhere in this happy, uplifting, and tuneful song. Always a favorite during the holiday season, it brings joy to children all over the world.

SKU: AP.46930

UPC: 038081535791. English. Words based on a traditional nursery rhyme; music by Glenda Franklin.

A piano accompaniment that suggests the gentle rocking of a boat at sea sets the scene for this fanciful nighttime adventure, featuring a text adapted from a traditional nursery rhyme. With a melody built around a minor triad, it's a clear introduction to minor tonality. A couple of cues allow for optional three-part harmony at the end.

About Alfred Choral Designs

Th e Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: AP.45620

UPC: 038081513591. English.

This change-of-pace charmer recreates the conversation between a pair of birds as they observe children singing. The birds consider what the sounds are, why the sounds are made, and most importantly, Is it music? Kids will embrace telling the animated story with playful tempo shifts, dramatic fermatas, comic interjections, and a tender final realization that, Yes, it's music! Optional clarinet and string bass parts are available for free online.

About Alfred Choral Designs

Th e Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.

SKU: AP.35855

SKU: AP.45621

UPC: 038081513607. English.

This change-of-pace charmer recreates the conversation between a pair of birds as they observe children singing. The birds consider what the sounds are, why the sounds are made, and most importantly, Is it music? Kids will embrace telling the animated story with playful tempo shifts, dramatic fermatas, comic interjections, and a tender final realization that, Yes, it's music! Optional clarinet and string bass parts are available for free online.

About Alfred Choral Designs

Th e Alfred Choral Designs Series provides student and adult choirs with a variety of secular choral music that is useful, practical, educationally appropriate, and a pleasure to sing. To that end, the Choral Designs series features original works, folk song settings, spiritual arrangements, choral masterworks, and holiday selections suitable for use in concerts, festivals, and contests.