Description
Sung in French, Plakatap features a Haitian Creole expression often used to describe the sound of a horse galloping or people dancing. The word also carries a joyful childhood memory of sitting on my father’s lap as he bounced me like a galloping horse while repeating, “plakatap, plakatap.”
In this piece, plakatap embodies communal dancing, unity, joy, connection, and love, inviting each and every one of us to celebrate our shared humanity.
Translation of French text:
Children of all countries,
Youth from everywhere,
Sing, jump, dance!
On foot or by bike,
Our bags on our backs,
Plakatap – Plakatap,
Plakatap – Plakatap!
Let’s party, let’s sing!
Let’s celebrate Humanity with one heart,
And let us all sing our Fraternity in chorus!
Regardless of what’s happening,
In spite of the distance,
We are one family
Of young men and women.
Let us dwell in the Unity
Of one Humanity….
Click Here for complete text and English translation
Click Here Traducción al Español
Errata
Edition 4.14.2026 correction: The IPA for “Allons” should be /alõ/
Recordings
Plakatap – recording :
Miami Children’s Chorus (world premiere)
Sydney Guillaume, conductor
Perusal Score
YouTube Performance Videos
Practice Tracks