2

Watoto na Malaika

Children and Angels, Rejoice

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

Study Guide by Michael Burkhardt

ABOUT THE music

1. The text and melody on which this arrangement is based is a composite transcription by
Elaine Reitan and Michael Burkhardt of a Tanzanian song heard sung by children and
adults in Mwanza, Tanzania.
2. The vocal parts for Alto 1 and Alto 2 are by the arranger and have their roots in the
harmonies improvised by the Tanzanian singers.

3. Although the vocal parts could be sung unaccompanied, instrumental parts based on the
harmonic and rhythmic practices of the Tanzanian community have been created and
offered as options for performance by the arranger. The percussion parts are ostinatibased and may be expanded upon with each repetition of the melody.
4. Although arranged for caller and three-part treble voices, the anthem may be performed
effectively by caller and unison voices (singing the melody) or by caller and two-part
voices (singing the melody and Alto 2).

5. The arrangement is based on performance practices of the culture. With each repetition
of the melody, more vocal parts, instrumental sounds, and intensity are added. A steady
beat is always maintained from one repetition to the next.

ABOUT THE african singing tradition

1. Vocal music is unaccompanied, except for the use of instrumental and body percussion.
Body percussion includes clapping, patschen (patting the thighs), stomping, and clearly
articulated consonant sounds.
2. The vocal sound is bright and straight, produced with an open throat.

3. Vocal music is primarily an oral tradition: melodies are learned by listening and echoing,
harmonies are improvised by ear.
4. Movement always accompanies singing. It may be as simple as stepping in place or
swaying from side to side.

learning the music

1. Teach/learn the melody by rote first. Then use the printed arrangement as a reminder of
the melody and as a guide for creating harmony and rhythmic accompaniment.

2. Teach/learn Alto 2 before Alto 1. It will be easier to float and tune the thirds created
by the two alto parts when the bottom pitches are secured first. Alto 2 is based on three
pitches of the major scale: mi, fa, and sol. Alto 1 is based on four pitches of the major scale:
la, sol, fa, and re.

pronunciation guide

1. Swahili vowels are pronounced as follows:

Vowel
a
e
i
o
u

IPA
[a]
[e]
[i]
[o]
[u]

English Equivalent
as in father
as in day
as in see
as in rose
as in shoot

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

2. Swahili consonants are pronounced as in English. The g of shangilia is pronounced

[g] as in the English word, get.

Text:
Watoto na Malaika, shangilia
Pronunciation: Wah-Toh-Toh Nah Mah-Lah-ee-Kah SHahN-Gee-Lee-ah

Text:
Watoto na mama, baba, shangilia
Pronunciation: Wah-Toh-Toh Nah Mah-Mah Bah-Bah SHahN-Gee-Lee-ah

Text:
Watoto na watu Wote, shangilia
Pronunciation: Wah-Toh-Toh Nah Wah-Too Woh-Tay SHahN-Gee-Lee-ah

translation

Text:
Translation:

Watoto na Malaika, shangilia

Children and angels, rejoice.

Text:
Translation:

Watoto na mama, baba, shangilia

Children and mothers, fathers, rejoice.

Text:
Translation:

Watoto na watu Wote, shangilia.

Children and all people, rejoice.

Commissioned by Elaine Kopperud Reitan

in memory of James A. Kopperud
who loved children and the music they make

Watoto na Malaika

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

Caller, Two- or Three-Part Treble Voices,

with opt. *Percussion, Autoharp/Guitar, and Keyboard

Michael Burkhardt

Tanzanian

F
b
4
& b 4 J
1

Unison
Voices

Caller(s):

Wa

b
&b

b
&b
b
&b

to

ka,

b
&b

na

Ma - la

- i

ka,

j j

wa -

na Ma - la -

ka,

Wa - to - to

na Ma - la - i

All:

Wa -

wa - to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a!

j j

i - ka, shan - gi - li - a!

na Ma - la - i

12

to

wa - to - to

Small Drum (and/or Claps)

to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa - to - to

to - to

na Ma - la -

ka,

wa -

*Percussion Instruments: Small (or hand claps) and Large Drums (In Tanzania, called Haya Drums); Shakers (Manyanga);
and Claves.
Reproducible parts for Autoharp/Guitar/Keyboard and Percussion are on pages 14-15.
Autoharp/Guitar/Keyboard and Percussion enter at the direction of the Conductor.

Text and Tune: A Tanzanian song transcription by Elaine Reitan and Michael Burkhardt (PD).
English translation by Elaine Reitan and Michael Burkhardt, and copyright 2013 with this publication.
Arrangement: Michael Burkhardt, and copyright 2013 with this publication.

Copyright 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO
All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. 1.800.647.2117 www.MorningStarMusic.com
Reproducing this publication in any form is prohibited by law without the permission of the publisher.

MSM-50-6524

The CCLI License does not give permission to copy this music.

15

to

to

na

Ma - la

ka,

shan - gi

li

Caller(s):

a!

Oh,

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

&

bb

17

&b
&b

chil

? bb

Small Drum

Large Drum

? b
b

chil - dren

b
& b
.
E

and

all

you

an

*Chords for opt. Autoharp or Guitar.

MSM-50-6524

and

all

you

j

-

the

oh,

Lord

an - gels, praise
F

gels,

b
&b

19

dren

(Keybd.)

*B b

God!

Oh,

<

b
&b

21

b
b
&b

chil

dren

and

all

you

an

gels,

oh,

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

? bb .

23

bb

b
& b
.

? bb

b
&b

25

b
b
& b
.

chil - dren
B

? bb .
F

Small Drum

Large Drum

chil - dren
E

Shakers

MSM-50-6524

and all you

j

-

an - gels,

Lord

All:

Oh,

oh, chil - dren

E

b
.

God!

<

the

an - gels, praise
F

and all you

&

and all you

b
&b

28

the

Lord

God!

Oh,

chil

dren

and

all

you

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

an - gels, praise

b
&b
F

? b
b

b
&b

an

b
b
&b
E

MSM-50-6524

oh,

b
.

and

all

you

chil - dren
E

gels,

? b
b .

<

30

b
&b

32

Lord

God!

Lord

God!

to

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

Soprano

an - gels, praise the

First
Alto

b
&b

an - gels, praise the

Second
Alto

b
&b

an - gels, praise the

b j
&b

? b j
b

Keyboard

Shakers

Claves

Small
Drum
Large
Drum

Lord

Wa - to

God!

Wa - to

*Mama, Baba (mothers, fathers) may be substituted for Malaika (angels).

MSM-50-6524

Wa - to

to

b

.

j

.

na Ma - la *(Ma - ma,

j

-

na Ma - la *(Ma - ma,

to

na Ma - la *(Ma - ma,

b
&b

b
&b

j j

j j

j j

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

34

i Ba -

i Ba -

b
&b

i Ba -

b
b
& b
.

ka,
ba,)

ka,
ba,)

ka,
ba,)

? b
b .

MSM-50-6524

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa (Ma - ma, Ba - ba,)

wa - to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa (Ma - ma, Ba - ba,)

wa - to - to

j

-

wa - to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa (Ma - ma, Ba - ba,)

Bb
j
j

.
.
<

10

b
&b

b
&b

b
&b

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

37

na Ma - la - i (Ma - ma, Ba -

to - to

to - to

na Ma - la - i (Ma - ma, Ba -

to - to

b
b
& b
.

j

-

? b .
b

MSM-50-6524

na Ma - la - i (Ma - ma, Ba -

b

.

ka,
ba,)

ka,
ba,)

ka,
ba,)

na Ma - la (Ma - ma,

wa - to - to

na Ma - la (Ma - ma,

wa - to - to

j

-

wa - to - to

na Ma - la (Ma - ma,

11

b
&b

j
J
6

..

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

40

i - ka, shan - gi - li - a!
Ba - ba,)

&

bb

&

bb

Wa - to - to

j j
..
6

i - ka, shan - gi - li - a!
Ba - ba,)

j j .
.

<

j
b
& b
.
? b
b

Wa - to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka,
*(wa - tu Wo - te,)

i - ka, shan - gi - li - a!
Ba - ba,)
F

na Ma - la - i - ka,
*(wa - tu Wo - te,)

Wa - to - to

b
..
.

j

-

.. .

..

.. j

.. .

na Ma - la - i - ka,
*(wa - tu Wo - te,)

wa -

wa -

*watu Wote (all people) may be substituted for Malaika (angels).

MSM-50-6524

wa -

12

b
&b

j j

j j

j j

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

43

to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa - to - to
(wa - tu Wo - te,)

b
&b

b
&b

to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa - to - to
(wa - tu Wo - te,)

to - to

b
.
b
& b
E

? b
b

MSM-50-6524

na Ma - la (wa - tu

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa - to - to
(wa - tu Wo - te,)

na Ma - la (wa - tu

Bb
j
j

.
. -

na Ma - la (wa - tu

b

.

j

-

<

13

b
&b

b
&b

b
&b

Repeat to measure 41 as desired. Fade away on final repetition.

j
.
J .

..
j j .
.

Co
Re py
i
vi ng
ew is
co ille
py ga
on l
ly

46

i - ka,
Wo - te,)

i - ka,
Wo - te,)

i - ka,
Wo - te,)

b
b
&b
E

? b
b .

MSM-50-6524

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa (wa - tu Wo - te,)

wa - to - to

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa (wa - tu Wo - te,)

wa - to - to

wa - to - to

b
.

na Ma - la - i - ka, shan - gi - li - a! Wa (wa - tu Wo - te,)

Repeat to measure 41 as desired. Fade away on final repetition.

Bb

J

..

..

Repeat to measure 41 as desired. Fade away on final repetition.

..
J

..

..

Music engraving by J. Michael Case