Friday, October 12, 2007

Franco-American News & Events, 7: ...multicultural society...fact, not fiction.


[Le Mozart Noir: Music of / Musique de Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges; Tafelmusik Orchestra; Jeanne Lamon, conductor; CBC Records / Les disques SRC SMCD 5225 (2003)]

Franco-American News & Events, 7” is: “A study via the media of the French on the North American continent and elsewhere.” The description and a post on multiculturalism by Editor Rhea Côté Robbins struck a chord with us. The post is followed by a Comment we posted on the blog.

Thursday, October 11, 2007 ...multicultural society...fact, not fiction.

N.D.L.R.: ...always interesting to me to read what the other side is "thinking"...more like Lost in SPACE of their own cavity of thought...never been a multicultural society...er...what about the Native American tribes that were here already, as the greeting party, when the immigrants arrived?...history does not begin on this continent 400, or even 500 years ago...to say that is to put your head where the sun does not shine...sainte vache! And then there is the aspect of the many languages in the WORLD, never mind the fact that on the continent known as America...both of them for that matter...America does not = the U.S. corridor...ok. Like I said, I like to read, once in a while, the AM station thought process of the other side...like saying multi-cultural does not exist...makes it all go bye-bye...keyrice...diversity is a FACT of nature...or else we perish...

Wake up...and smell the varieties! Rhea Côté Robbins”


Comments: William J. Zick said...

An excellent example of French influence in the Americas, and the distinctive cultural contributions of African Americans is the composer, conductor and virtuoso violinist Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), who was born on a plantation on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. His music, his life and his status as France's finest fencer are discussed on his page at www.AfriClassical.com Saint-Georges was among the first composers of the string quartet and the symphony concertante in France. Dozens of CDs display his elegant works. He is only one of many people of African descent who have contributed to the classical genre. My website profiles 52 Black composers, conductors and instrumentalists, and gives over 100 audio examples of their music.

An active cultural ambassador for France is the Nigerian pianist Sodi Braide, recently profiled on my blog, http://africlassical.blogspot.com/
Sodi released a CD of solo piano works of César Franck on the Lyrinx label in March, and tours the world on behalf of France. The CD is sold on French music websites.

The Opéra National de Bordeaux has a new Musical Director this season, Kwamé Ryan, who is Black and was born in Canada. Kwamé's charisma has thrilled many patrons of his concerts.



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Black+Composer" rel="tag">Black Composer
Black+Pianist" rel="tag">Black Pianist
classical+music" rel="tag">classical music


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