Fèy O!: TBB Choral Octavo
Traditional Haitian Folk Song / arr. with new music by Ruth Morris Gray
Item: 00-PO-0007034
$2.20
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Lively percussion and rhythmic choral phrases reflect the urgency of a parent seeking healing herbs for a sick child. Sung entirely in Creole, this song is well-known across Haiti and beyond. The arrangement punctuates a faithful interpretation of the folk song with new material and can be performed with or without piano. Claves, congas, and shaker parts are free to download at alfred.com/choralparts.
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Sample Audio
1
1 Fèy O! (Full Performance)
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2
2 Fèy O! (A Capella)
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1 Fèy O! (Full Performance)
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Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0007034
Instrumentation:
Percussion
More about this title
About the Arranger: Ruth Morris Gray
Ruth Morris Gray has served as Director of Choirs at Rosemead High School in California since 2004, where she also teaches piano. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Biola University and a Master of Arts in Music Composition from UC Santa Barbara, complemented by a California Single Subject Music Credential from Cal State Northridge.
With over 100 published choral compositions to her name, Gray brings deep compositional skill to her work as both arranger and educator. Beyond the choir room, she is an accomplished performer and traveler who finds inspiration across cultures and musical traditions.
Why we love this
Gray's arrangement honors the Haitian folk tradition while infusing the piece with genuine rhythmic energy and structural invention. The flexible instrumentation (optional piano, downloadable percussion parts) makes this accessible to programs at different resource levels, yet the arrangement never feels simplified. A director programming this gets an authentic window into Creole culture paired with music that sings naturally for treble and bass voices.
What to expect
The piece pulses with urgency and purpose. Layered percussion carries the weight of parental concern, while the Creole text brings intimacy and specificity to a universal human experience. The arrangement walks a skilled line between honoring folk authenticity and creating fresh harmonic color.
Who it's for
Treble and bass choirs, male-voiced ensembles, and mixed groups seeking literature that expands cultural representation on concert programs. The piece works for singers aged 14 and up, whether in a high school choir, university ensemble, or community chorus.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the percussion parts early in rehearsal. The claves and congas establish the heartbeat of the piece; once your rhythm section feels secure, the choral phrases will land with much greater impact.
- Attend to the Creole pronunciation from the start. Syllable clarity lifts the storytelling; consider having a native speaker or recording guide your early rehearsals.
- Balance the new material Ruth added with the folk melody itself. These moments should feel like natural outgrowths of the tradition, not interruptions.
How to use it
Schedule this for a concert devoted to world music or as a bridge between spirituals and contemporary multicultural repertoire. Its concert length and rhythmic appeal also make it compelling in a festival setting where judges and audiences respond to pieces with distinctive character and cultural grounding.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in a non-English language with authentic pronunciation and musical intent
- Maintaining a rhythmic pulse against independent percussion parts
- Reading and interpreting folk melodies arranged with modern harmonic language
- Collaborating with percussionists in a chamber choir setting