Music of Occide Jeanty, Ludovic Lamothe & Julio Racine on Haitian Program at Lawrence U. Feb. 6

[Julio Racine]

AfriClassical has heard from Janet Anthony, Professor of Music, Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Appleton, Wisconsin. She tells us that Haitian music will be presented at the school Feb. 6, 2010.

Program:

Tangente au Yanvalou by Julio Racine (b. 1945) will be performed by Deborah Etienne, flute & Steven Huang, piano.

Claire de Lune by Sabrina Jean Louis (b. 1994) & Choucoune by Michel Mauleart Monton & Arranged by Hector Lominy, will be performed by Janet Anthony, Carolyn Armstrong, Lindsay Schwartz & Anna Henke, cellos.

Twa wond ayisyen (Traditional Haitian Songs) Nou somm’ twa peti jandamm’ Arranged by John Jost, Solda wa Milo & Twa fwa pasé la will be performed by Singers from the Milwaukee Choral Artists under Sharon Hynsen, Director.

Dominus Vobiscum by Sidney Guillaume (b. 1982) will be performed by Shazore Shah, soloist & Friends of Haiti Chamber Choir, led by Tercy Hethkenly, director.

Documentary Film Footage, Bel Son Productions

Friends of Haiti Chamber Orchestra

Marassa é Iou by Werner Jaegerhuber (1900-1953) & Sous la Tonnelle by Ludovic Lamothe (1882-1953), directed by Janet Anthony, conductor.

Danse Capoise by Ludovic Lamothe, led by Keith Johnston, conductor.

Retraite aux Flambeau by Ludovic Lamothe, under direction of Steven Huang, conductor.

Trois Contes Haitiennes by Férére Laguerre (1935-1983); Siwo Grenadine, Ti Zwazo & Conte Haitienne will be performed along with La Delaisse et ses Soupirs by Occide Jeanty (1860-1936), under the direction of John Jost, conductor.
[Occide Jeanty, Ludovic Lamothe & Julio Racine are profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Portland Press Hearald: 'For a small nation, Haiti heavy on classical composers'

[Occide Jeanty and the score from "1804", Marche Militaire, on a 1960 Haitian stamp.]

An interview with Christopher Hyde five years ago resulted in a column about AfriClassical.com on Jan. 23, 2005. We appreciate Christopher's use of the website to illustrate the classical music heritage of Haiti in his column today. The titles of two recordings he mentions are linked to the websites at which they are available.
Portland Press Herald - Maine Sunday Telegram
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com
CLASSICAL BEAT
For a small nation, Haiti heavy on classical composers
Christopher Hyde
January 24, 2010
"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. One estimate in "Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music and Cultural Nationalism" (Michael Largey, University of Chicago Press, 2006) is as high as 60." "The most prominent of Haitian composers – Solon Verret, Justin Elie, Occide Jeanty and Ludovic Lamothe – wrote primarily instrumental music, usually for the piano, and marches and other works for public occasions. The most famous of the latter is Jeanty's '1804' commemorating Haiti's independence. He was prohibited from conducting it during the U.S. occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934."

"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). Elie was the most widely traveled and published of the Haitian pianist-composers and eventually made his home in the United States. His nationalism took the form of support for the Native American cause, something that Haiti had offered since its inception. A sidelight to Elie's successful career was his writing of music to accompany the 1925 silent film 'Phantom of the Opera.' I wonder if Andrew Lloyd Webber ever heard it. I am indebted for most of the information in this column to William J. Zick's formidable Web site, AfriClassical.com..."

Greasy.com: 'Occide Jeanty Music Resists Tyranny'

On July 29, 2008 AfriClassical posted 'Occide Jeanty (1860-1936), Haitian Composer, Resisted U.S. Occupation With Music'. We are happy to report that the post has been republished at Greasy.com under the title 'Occide Jeanty Music Resists Tyranny' along with the original links and the Technorati tags.

Global Voices Online: Haiti, U.S.A.: Musical Militia

Janine Mendes-Franco is Regional Editor, Caribbean, for Global Voices Online, http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/ She published this post about AfriClassical on July 30, 2008: “AfriClassical quotes author Michael Largey in its profile of Haitian classical composer Occide Jeanty (1860-1936): By performing pieces that had extramusical programs referring to Haitian political resistance, the Musique du Palais National, with Occide Jeanty conducting, became a symbol of Haitian resistance, albeit in musical, not military terms.” AfriClassical is happy to add Janine's blog, Francomenz, to its Favorite Blogs.

Justin Elie, Haitian Composer, Born Sept. 1, 1883

According to a column by W.E.B. Du Bois in the January, 1916 issue of Crisis, the magazine of the N. A. A. C. P., the Haitian composer Justin Elie was born at Port-au-Prince on September 1, 1883. The column, as reproduced in Africana Encyclopedia, went on to say:

"At the age of five years he showed a passion for music. His parents took him to France and put him in the celebrated institution of Sainte Croix. He was prepared for the Conservatory of Paris by the great pianist, Marmontel, and passed a brilliant entrance examination in 1903.
…
He graduated in 1905 and has since been in concert work in Paris and in the West Indies. He has written several compositions, notable among them is Aphrodite. Monsieur Elie is expected in the United States soon."

Three short pieces by Justin Elie were recorded by Jean E. Saint-Eloi on a MIDI-guitar on IFA Music Records 256 (1999): Chant De La Montagne #1, Isma-o! (1:55); Chant De La Montagne #2, Nostalgie (2:17); and Legende Creole (4:10). The CD may be ordered, and an audio sample of Chant De La Montagne #1, Isma-o! may be heard, at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/sainteloi

The liner notes are by the guitarist, Jean E. Saint-Eloi, and begin with an overview of Haitian classical music. Other Haitian composers represented on the CD are Occide Jeanty (1860-1936), Solon Verret and Ludovic Lamothe (1882-1953). Each is profiled at AfriClassical.com Saint-Eloi estimates that Haiti has produced about 60 classical composers.