Dubuque Telegraph Herald says Justin Elie's 'Tropical Fantasy' has been 'Unheard for 80 years'

[Justin Elie, Cover photo of sheet music for Nostalgie]

"Pianist's love of Haitian classical music comes to the forefront with the concerto, 'Tropical Fantasy"™

Sandye Voight is a staff writer for www.thonline.com, the Internet presence of The Dubuque Telegraph Herald, which has kindly granted our request for access to excerpts from this story. The article is highly relevant to the mission of AfriClassical.com, where the Haitian composer Justin Elie is featured and his Works are compiled by our principal advisor, Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.

Publication Date: November 11, 2011 Page: 13 Section: C Zone: All

“When Joshua Russell, principal pianist for the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, performs 'Tropical Fantasy,' by Haitian composer Justin Elie, it will be the second time the piano concerto has been performed since 1930. It is one of two pieces he will perform with the Dubuque Symphony Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 19-20. Russell became fascinated with Haitian classical music after spending several summers teaching at Holy Trinity School of Music summer camp in Port-au-Prince. The music school was founded by an Episcopalian nun in order to provide musicians for a Haitian orchestra.

"'I fell in love with the country and the people,' Russell said, in a phone interview from his home in Peoria, Ill. He is instructional assistant professor of piano at Illinois State University, Normal, and also teaches at Bradley University in Peoria. 'There is an amazing spirit and hope in the people, especially the children,' he said. He also was struck by the beauty of Haitian music. 'Not just the indigenous music, but there's a rich classical art music tradition,' he said. 'It's not as widespread, but the few (composers) that are there have beautiful works.'

“Among them is Elie, the composer of 'Tropical Fantasy.' He was born in 1883, left Haiti and had a career in New York as a prominent composer for orchestra. NBC commissioned 'Lure of the Tropics' for a radio show. It premiered in 1930. Unfortunately, Elie died young of cerebral hemorrhage and the work was never published.” "'It's a beautiful work, with gorgeous melodies that are like Latin dance and Haitian folk music," he said. "It's like a Haitian 'Rhapsody in Blue,' a single movement concerto and a fusion of classic styles with folk elements and rhythms."

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).”