La nuit on danse

From Life After Me, a solo requiem in five parts to honor the memory of a loved one lost to suicide.

Music and lyrics by Peter Christian
Visuals by Jeanne Lyons and Peter Christian
Photo by Matt Dunphy

To The River

Premiered on September 20th, 2015 by the Heartland Sings Chorale under the direction of Maestro Robert Nance. The Heartland Sings Chorale is stationed out of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The text from Lux Aeterna comes from the Latin Requiem Mass.  A translation is given below:

In Latin: 
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, 
cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. 
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine; 
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

English Translation: 
May everlasting light shine upon them, O Lord,
with thy saints in eternity, for thou art merciful
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,
and may everlasting light shine upon them.

Lux Aeterna incorporates a type of singing known as overtone singing, derived from that of the Tuvan tradition. In order to achieve this, the singers modulate between different vowels and adjust the shape of their oral cavity to create a filter, highlighting overtones (or partials in the harmonic spectrum) above the note they are singing. This combined with the juxtaposition of closely spaced and widely spaced chords is meant to to evoke a sense of expansiveness and a glimpse into the eternal.

-Lucas Marshall Smith

Lux Aeterna (2013) for SSAATTBB Chorus and Solo Quartet

Arvada West High School Vocal Showcase 
Chris Maunu, Conductor.
(World Premiere at the CMEA Conference in Colorado Springs on January 27, 2012)
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Music by: Sydney Guillaume
Text by: Louis Marie Celestin 
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English Poetic Translation:

Hurry up, walk quickly! 
Lift your feet up so you won’t miss it,
Wake up, take advantage,
The Tap-Tap is warming up!

If your legs are short, get a head start;
The best time is now,
Don’t say you didn’t know,
Those who are wise are those who lead.

Don’t let time pass you by, 
It’s time for you to get on board, 
The Tap-Tap is leaving now,
It’s time for us to go!

Hurry up, walk quickly!
Lift your feet up and don’t miss it,
The Tap-Tap is taking off!
Don’t fool around, get on!
Don’t wait, don’t stare, 
Don’t joke around, get on!
The Tap-Tap might just leave you!

Get up! Stand proud!
Those of you who know what you want,
Those of you with your minds made up,
Don’t miss a great opportunity
To do something for the nation!

Listen, don’t miss a great opportunity to do something,
Get up, stand proud, don’t sit around and wait!

Get up! Let’s go!

Don’t waste your time,
Go learn something useful
To benefit society,
And enhance humanity.

Keep your feet on the ground, 
Keep your eyes open, 
Don’t cast your pearls before swine,
Drugs will hold you back.

Get up! Stand proud! 
Walk quickly, let’s go!
It’s time for you to get on board, 
The Tap-Tap is on its way,
It’s speeding up, it will not stop;
Jump on it if you want to make it!

Let’s go!


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Haitian Creole Text by: Louis Marie Celestin 
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Tap-Tap

Mache prese, mache prese!
Leve pye’w pou pa rate’l,
Reveye’w, fò profite,
Tap-Tap la ape chofe!

S’ou gen pye kout pran devan;
Pi bonè se granm maten,
Pa vin di ou p’at konnen,
Moun ki save se yo k’ap mennen.

Pa kite tan pase,
Li lè pou anbake,
Lè a rive pou’l derape,
Li lè pou nou ale!

Mache prese, mache prese,
Leve pye’w pou pa rate’l,
Tap-Tap la ap derape!
Pa betize, monte!
Pa gade, pa gade, 
Ba betize, monte!
Tap-Tap la san lè kite’w!

Leve kanpe! Leve kanpe!
Oumenm ki konn ki sa ou vle,
Ou ki vreman deside,
Fò pa rate bon okazyon
Pou f’on jefò pou la nasyon!

Fò pa rate bon okazyon pou f’on jefò, tande!
Leve kanpe, pa chita gade!

Leve! An’n ale!

Pa kite tan’w gaspiye,
Al aprann yon bon metye
Pou itil la sosyete,
Pou limanite progrese.

Se pou de pye’w toujou sou tè,
De grenn je’w toujou ouvè,
Pa bay bon rad pou pèpè.
Dròg ap fè’w rete djè-djè.

Leve kanpe, leve kanpe! 
Mache prese, an’n ale!
Li lè pou ou anbake,
Tap-Tap la ape pouse,
L’ap pran vitès, li pap rete;
Sote ladan’l s’ou vle rive!

An’n ale!
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Tap-Tap  -  Arvada West High School Vocal Showcase

For more info about this work, to see the score and learn about upcoming performances, go to:

https://sydneyguillaume.com/lavil-okap/

Lavil Okap - Demo Recording (Edition 1-5-2025)

FRANCIS

"Come Holy Spirit"
by Zanaida Robles
performed by Zanaida Robles

Zanaida Robles's Album

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Improvised song from Sept 24, 2016, recording recently found on google drive.

Blargh - 2016

bitter

Romance

You 
With your smile bright 
With those burning eyes 
Honey of mine

You 
How you go 
Breaking every home
Everyone you know 

Lovers
Of my demise 
Adam leaving Adonai 
Where jealousy resides 

Is this 
What you wanted 
How you imagined 
For what it's worth 
Does it hurt 
Heaven on earth 
Now you're with her 

Specters 
Of my lovers 
Never recover 
But never die 

Fragments 
Of my mind
This handmade antichrist 
Addiction of a vice
(Addiction and his vice)

A N T I C H R I S T

https://sydneyguillaume.com

Praised by the Miami Herald for their “impressive maturity and striking melodic distinction”, Sydney Guillaume’s compositions are known to be intricate, challenging and yet highly spirited. They promote human values and are full of heart and passion. His compositions continually enthrall choirs everywhere and have been performed around the world. They have been featured at numerous conferences and international festivals like the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the World Choir Games and Ireland’s Cork International Choral Festival. He is an active member of the choral community as a composer, singer, clinician and conductor. Guillaume also writes film music – he has written original film and documentary scores for the Los Angeles based company Loyola Productions.