Robert DeCormier studied conducting and composition at Juilliard, then spent decades shaping American choral music from multiple angles. He served as music director of the New York Choral Society for seventeen years, arranged and conducted for Harry Belafonte, and held the role of music director for Peter, Paul and Mary from 1978 to 2010. He also taught conducting and ensembles at Eastman from 1972 to 1977.
Beyond these major posts, DeCormier founded Counterpoint, a professional vocal ensemble based in Vermont that recorded six albums and led workshops with high school choirs across New England. His arranging legacy spans African-American spirituals, international folk songs, and original choral works. Recognition came late but substantially: a Vermont Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2002 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Choral Arts Foundation in 2006.
Why we love this
DeCormier brings Caribbean warmth and rhythmic sophistication to a well-known spiritual, transforming it into something that feels both festive and grounded. The calypso treatment isn't novelty; it's a genuine cultural conversation that invites singers to discover how gospel melody travels and adapts. Choirs consistently report that this arrangement energizes rehearsals and resonates with audiences looking for Christmas music that breathes.
What to expect
Warmth and motion dominate from the opening moments. The arrangement sparkles with island inflection and syncopation, yet retains the earnestness of the spiritual underneath; this is celebration that honors what came before. Singers find themselves smiling at the rhythmic lift and the permission to feel joy in their voices.
Who it's for
Choirs with solid reading skills and at least modest rhythmic confidence will thrive here. It works beautifully for groups seeking Christmas repertoire that steps outside the familiar Eurocentric tradition, whether they're programming a concert, leading a service, or simply wanting to broaden their singers' musical horizons.
How to get the most out of it
Anchor the rhythm section internally before worrying about tempo precision. Calypso lives in the groove, so lock the pulse with your soloists and supporting voices first.
Highlight the call-and-response moments between sections. They're built into the arrangement; let them live and breathe rather than pasting over them with uniform dynamics.
Explore how DeCormier layers the parts across phrases. Certain voicing choices will naturally emerge if you hear them as conversation rather than harmony stacked vertically.
How to use it
Slot this into the second half of a holiday concert to shift energy and mood after more traditional carols. It pairs especially well with other arranged spirituals or world music pieces, signaling to the audience that your choir engages with Christmas from multiple cultural angles. The arrangement also works as an effective closer if you're looking to send the audience out with infectious optimism.
Skills your students will build
Rhythmic independence in a syncopated calypso-influenced meter
Call-and-response singing with clear ensemble articulation
Shaping phrasing across layered, interlocking vocal lines
Expressive interpretation of a spiritual tradition outside the concert hall idiom
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