Amezaliwa Tushangilie!, Robert J. Begisen | Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.

Amezaliwa Tushangilie! [level: Medium]
Robert J. Begisen: Bio and other works

RELEASED: August 2023

voicing: SATB | catalog number: SBMP 1730 | duration: c. 3’58 | price: $2.70
accompaniment: optional drum
INSTRUMENT PART: drums - FREE Download

“Let’s Rejoice and Celebrate!” Feature a tenor soloist in this new original Christmas Carol by composer Robert Jim Begisen. Written in Kiswahili, and complete with a phonetic pronunciation guide and translation. Perfect for holiday concerts or any time of year, this piece is great fun and quick to learn. Works well with mixed choirs of all levels and sizes; a cappella, SATB (no divisi) with optional drums (djembe and/or congas).

performance by: University of Arkansas - Dr Jeffrey Allen Murdock, conductor [© all rights reserved]

CLICK HERE: See and Hear the Complete Score or download a perusal copy: HERE

CLICK HERE: Read the Text or Poem

Pronunciation Guide/Translation

La-le-yio (Lah-lay-yoh)
O (Oh)
Ha (Hah)
Ha! i-ya ha! ha! (Hah ee-yah hah-hah)
Ho-yia! (Hoh-eeyah)
Hoyie (Hoh-eeyeh)
Leyio (Lay-eeyoh)
He - (hay)

Mwo-ko-zi (Mwoh-koh-zee)
A-me-za-li-wa (Ah-meh-zah-lee-wah)
Ka-za-li-wa (Kah-zah-lee-wah)
Tu-sha-ngi-li-e (Too-sha-ngee-lee-eh)

The Savior is born. Let us rejoice and celebrate!

“Hoyia”, “Hoyie”, “Leyio”, “Ha i ya ha ha!”, and “He!” are chants

CLICK HERE: Choral Tracks (Practice made simple)

Amezaliwa Tushangilie! choral track bundle contains a part dominant track for each voice part, a balanced voices track, and an accompaniment track if the work is not a cappella (the accompaniment is also included with the part dominant and balanced voices track). Get more information and listen to samples HERE. Please note that the choral score is not included in the bundle and needs to be ordered separately.

Price: $49.99 (Each bundle is licensed to be used by up to 50 users)
Please adjust the quantity accordingly if you have more than 50 users.

CLICK HERE: Robert J. Begisen performance notes

This is an original composition of a Christmas Carol that has attempted to imitate the Maasai idiom in East Africa. The song is however written in the Kiswahili language which is mainly spoken in East Africa. It should be performed in a lively, jovial and celebratory mood. General performance should be in a free and non legato way - especially on the chants.

The tempo markings given are a guide. They may be varied as comfortable as it can be, however, it is unlikely that a much faster/a too slow tempo would be desirable.

The "Ha i ya ha ha! " chants should be firm. You may add loud breath inhalation or any other suitable sounds in between the chants at your discretion, e.g. chant "Ha i ya ha ha", then breath loudly on the silent crotchet note before you make the next chant. Every chant should be firm and audible even when at "p", or "mp". From measure 76 to measure 84, perform while clapping hands on every 2nd and 4th beat in the measure. The claps should stop in the final measure.

The Maasai generally do not accompany their songs with drums. However, this composition recognizes that culture is dynamic and therefore provides for an optional drum accompaniment. Preferably djembe or conga drums may be used. The suggested drum beats may be varied at the discretion of the percussionist.

This score is available in Printed or ePrint format at checkout (More Information)

Reviews | submit review

"Great composition!"
review by: Selna, Nairobi, - N/A

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2024 | Long & McQuade Choral Clinic