O Canada Multilingual

I really love this new version of O Canada arranged and recorded by Tech Voc High School here in Winnipeg.

This is a multilingual version of “O Canada” including Cree, English, French, Ojibway, Inuktitut, and Tagalog.

Cultural Dancing

Understanding music in context is very important at Stevenson and a focus of the Manitoba Music Curriculum. Students connect music to contexts of time, place, and community, and develop understanding of how music reflects and influences culture and identity.

In this season, there are many holidays celebrated by the various families in our community. We can seek to understand and appreciate the beautiful gifts that they give through music, song, and dance, by experiencing them and participating in activities in the music room.

One of those traditions celebrated by some of our families at our school is Hanukkah (the Jewish word for 'dedication'). It is called the Jewish Festival of Lights and it remembers the rededication of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This happened in the 160s BC (before Jesus was born).

As the Grade 1s are learning about this festival and Jewish culture, they were learning a modified dance from this community.  We discovered that the song had a pattern.  Can you guess it?

Folk Dance - Niguno Shel Yossi

Wakati Wa Amani

The Grade 4/5 choir is preparing a song for the Remembrance Day assembly on Nov. 7.  We are learning to read music, sing in 2 part harmony and a new language, Swahili.  Here is the practice track.

Pronunciation Guide/Translation

Wakati wa amani (wah-kah-tee wah ah-mah-nee) = a time of peace

Amani iwe kwenu (ah-mah-nee ee-weh kweh-noo) = peace be with you

Kikora (kee-koh-rah) = joy

Mwanzo (em-wahn-zoh) = start over

Rafiki angu (rah-fee-kee ahn-goo) = my friend

Imani (ee-mah-nee) = faith

Kiburi (kee-boo-ree) = pride

Uwezo (oo-weh-zoh) = strength

Amini (ah-mee-nee) = believe