ISBN 9781491157305. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: C major. French.
This fantastic Camaroon marching song offers the choir an opportunity to experience and share a joyful song of welcome. With solos, call and response, and a rocking percussion accompaniment, mixed choirs of all abilities will love to proclaim "We are here!" Highly recommended.
The introductory solo call and response is an opportunity for creativity on the part of the conductor. It is completely optional, but it can be effective with the right soloists placed strategically in the hall. Think of it as the introduction to a parade, starting in the distance and progressively drawing closer. Once the percussion begins at m. 5, the key to success with this piece (other than singing the right notes at the right time with beautiful tone and bright faces) is establishing the best tempo and sticking to it. The tune is introduced at m. 9 and is easy to learn and teach since it is doubled within itself. The articulations are very important, but should seem natural and inherent in within the melodic line. In other words, work hard to make it seem as if you are hardly working at all! At m. 19, all the voice parts enter and the parade is finally in view with the melody prominent in the ALTO part. If you are singing this as a procession, this verse can be repeated as many times as needed until the choir is in place for key change the final verse. During the key change (mm. 36-40) and at the final cadence (mm. 48-49), the chords should snap into position like legos! The final 2 measures should proclaim; We are here! Faces bright; words clean; melody clear; rhythms precise! Enjoy!
