Prof. Jean Montès Helps Revive Music of Ludovic Lamothe, Haitian Composer Born May 12, 1882

[TOP: Prof. Jean Montès, Loyola University, New Orleans; BOTTOM: Fleurs d`Haiti, 10 Selections de Piano par Ludovic Lamothe Compositeur; Disques Victor]

As the birthday of Ludovic Lamothe on May 12, 1882 is observed, it is clear that his works for piano are being studied and performed by dedicated scholars and performers in a manner not seen in recent years, if ever. Ludovic Lamothe is profiled at AfriClassical.com. Voxitatis Blog posted an article by Paul Katula, “Honor Concert Preview: Looking at Haiti With Majesty, Joy, and Love.” It gave details of a student performance of a rarely-heard work, Danse Capoise by Ludovic Lamothe, under the direction of Prof. Jean Montès of Loyola University in New Orleans. He is known for bringing the Haitian Classical Music repertoire to life through his teaching and conducting at Loyola University, and he did the same at the IMEA All-State Conference:

“PEORIA (Jan. 29, 2010) — The levels of excitement and anticipation are high here at the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference.” “Among the works to be performed by the All-State Honors Orchestra at a 3 p.m. concert Saturday is the Danse Capoise by Ludovic Lamothe, orchestrated by John Jost.”

Joshua Russell performed music of Ludovic Lamothe at the Liszt-Garrison Festival in Baltimore on Oct. 17, 2009. Prof. Janet Anthony of Lawrence University Conservatory tells AfriClassical: “Joshua Russell, a newly minted DMA and professor of piano at Bradley University did his dissertation on the piano music of Ludovic Lamothe. His colleague, and former teacher, John Jost is a long time Haiti hand and knows an enormous amount about Haitian classical music.”

Christopher Hyde is Classical Music Critic at The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and has written about AfriClassical.com on various occasions. On Jan. 24, 2010 he wrote: "For a small nation, which gained its independence from France in 1804 after a long and bloody slave revolt, Haiti has produced more than its share of classical composers." "Lamothe, the best known of the Haitian composers, incorporated both Vodou religious music and meringue in his work, hoping that the African ancestry of both would fuse into a national musical style. He was hindered in this effort by the disdain of the Haitian upper classes for 'peasant' music and religion, although he was able to combine the two under the flag of nationalism, as in 'Nibo, Meringue de Carnaval,' of 1934, which was widely played to celebrate the end of American occupation.

"Lamothe's works have been recorded in 'A Vision of Ludovic Lamothe' (IFA Music Records, 2001) by pianist Charles P. Phillips. An overview is provided by guitarist Jean E. Saint-Eloi in 'Music of the Haitian Masters' (IFA Music Records 256, 1999).”