'Violin Hero: The Music and Life of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges,' Duke University Feb. 21

[Reginald Dewight Patterson]

“Violin Hero: The Music and Life of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges” is the title of a 3-part series at Duke University. It began with a fencing demonstration by Jonathan Parker and Tristan Jones on Feb. 16, and continued with a “Rare Music Lecture-Demonstration” at 4 PM Feb. 19. It will conclude with a “Solo Violin/Viola Recital” from 3:30-5:00 PM on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 in the Nelson Music Room, East Duke Building, East Campus.

“Reginald Dewight Patterson (Violinist and Violist) is a 4th year Candidate for Ph.D. In the Romance Studies Department at Duke University studying Francophone and Creolophone Literature and holds a Master of Arts in Romance Studies.” [The life, fencing and music of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) are presented at AfriClassical.com]

Duke University Libraries: 'Violin Hero: the music and life of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges'; Fencing Demonstration

[Violin Concertos, Op. 5, Nos. 1 & 2; Op. 3, No. 1; Op. 8, No. 9; Bernard Thomas Chamber Orchestra; Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Violin; Arion 68093 (1990)]

In addition to the lecture on Rare Music on Feb. 19, Reginald Patterson will speak at a Fencing Demonstration on the campus of Duke University on Feb. 16.

Duke University Libraries
Library.Duke.edu/
“Rare Music in the Rare Book Room, Friday, 19 February, 4pm, Perkins Library, Biddle Rare Book Room.”
“Reginald Patterson will bring to light the story of the Afro-French historical figure Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges..." "Born Joseph Boulogne in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, Saint-Georges was an innovator and the mediator at the crossroads of the music of French Enlightenment. Outstanding with a sword as well as a violin bow, he was an accomplished fencer who led a brigade during the French Revolution.
“Saint-Georges is reported to have been the most popular figure in the 18th century, so why is his story lost to us today?“
"Reginald Patterson will argue in this multimedia lecture/recital that investigating the life and accomplishments of Saint-Georges requires a radical re-positioning of thought on Western classical music as well as a critical debate on its future.” [Saint-Georges is the subject of several pages at the website AfriClassical.com, covering his biography, fencing career and selected recordings.]