Sunday, August 7, 2011

IberiaNet.com: Edmond Dede (1827-1903) & Charles Lucien Lambert, Sr. (1828-1896), New Orleans Composers




[TOP: Charles Lucien Lambert, Sr. & Lucien-Léon Guillaume Lambert, Jr.: Ouverture de Brocéliande and other works; Hot Springs Music Festival; Richard Rosenberg, Conductor; Cover Art: Creole Fantasy [detail] by Carole Katchen; Naxos 8.559037 (2000) BOTTOM: Edmond Dede; Hot Springs Music Festival; Richard Rosenberg, Conductor; Naxos 8.559038 (2000)]

The Daily Iberian
Louisiana-born Gottschalk was trendsetter in music
August 7, 2011
O.J. Gonzalez
“Some time ago I wrote about the many movies made about Louisiana. And it occurred to me that equally important are the serious native-born composers that brought fame to our state. Both are subjects that have always interested me. I already knew about our celebrated 19th century composer and piano virtuoso Louis Moreau Gottschalk. But after doing additional research, I discovered that this prodigy from New Orleans had become America's first musical superstar as well as an international sensation.”

“There are two other Creole composers who, although not as well known as Gottschalk, still left their mark in the world of serious music. Edmond Dede and Charles Lucien Lambert, both from New Orleans, composed works that were a unique mingling of dance and classical music, firmly rooted in the European tradition. And both achieved fame while living in France. A composition by Dede, 'Mon Pauvre Coeur,' is in fact the oldest piece of sheet music by a New Orleans composer.

“To listen to the music of these three men is to experience Louisiana at her very best. There is joy and exuberance in every single note. It's easy to see why so much of the world was captivated by the melodies of these brilliant sons of Louisiana.” [Edmond Dédé (1827-1903) and Charles Lucien Lambert, Sr. (1828-1896) are profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a Works List for Lambert by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com]

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