"[Creole music] is very beautiful and sadly, lots of people do not know it as a result of the discrimination against Haiti," Emilia Diaz Chavez, the choir's music director, said. "We're trying to let people in the world feel the sentiments of the Haitian culture."
All choir members are of Haitian descent and hail from Camaguey, Cuba, which has a high concentration of Haitians. Their musical repertoire includes the group's original compositions in addition to compilations of Haitian songs that the choir members learned as children, according to a study guide produced by the Hopkins Center. The group's primary goal is to promote Caribbean music and Haitian work in particular.
The rhythms and lyrics in the choir's music are generally derived from Haitian and African culture, while the instrumental aspects are primarily of Cuban origin. The call and response structure that is common in the group's songs is also of African origin. Although the music primarily serves to preserve choir members' ancestral past, the artists also mix Cuban inspirations in their work because their Cuban communities have contributed so much to their individual identities today.
The 10-person vocal and drumming ensemble was founded by Chavez in 1994 and has been touring for just over two years. The group as traveled to places including Holland, France, Switzerland, Helsinki, the United States and Canada, and has performed at major festivals in England, Spain, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
The choir's music often evokes themes of love, peace, work, friendship and humor. The members sing in Creole, French, Spanish and English and frequently convey stories about their ancestors who escaped slavery, worked on plantations and coped with poverty.
When performing traditional Haitian music, the group tries to maintain as much authenticity as possible, but sometimes takes a more modern approach by altering the piece's message to make it more relevant to the audience, according to Chavez.
"What distinguishes our music is the fact that we are Cuban, and we are fundamentally making Haitian music, so most of the songs are in Creole," Chavez said. "Since most people don't understand the words, they receive the message of the song directly in their hearts, and I think that is probably because we sing from the heart."
The choir utilized this emotional impact of its music during the earthquake recovery effort in Haiti in 2010, according to tour manager Kelso Riddell. The Cuban government commissioned the group as part of the mental health program that Cuba sent to Haiti after the earthquake.
"The reason they went was to try to give people a sense of hope and a sense that things would become normal again," Riddell said. "People were traumatized, walking around the street in a daze, and [this music] made them know things would get better because it made them smile."
In their workshops and performances with Haitians, the choir was able to lift people's spirits and get them dancing, singing and laughing despite the immense stress and crises that Haitians dealt with at the time, Riddell said.
"We know that music is medicine of the heart," Chavez said.
The show represents a unique opportunity for Dartmouth students to expose themselves to music they might not otherwise hear, Chavez said. If past performances during which audience members have hopped on stage to dance with the choir are any indication, this week's performance should offer a lively evocation of many emotions.
Chavez's interview was translated for the reporter by Riddell.
