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..."

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.