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La Lousianaise

from Goes Free by Domino Ensemble

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about

La Lousianaise (1860)
Basile Barés (1846-1902)

Basile Barés was an American composer who was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was a French carpenter and grocer, and his mother was an African-American woman enslaved by a man who owned a music and piano store. Since his mother was enslaved when he was born, Barés was also enslaved from birth. He grew up working in his enslaver’s music store, which is where he probably first learned to piano the piano and began to compose. He eventually took piano and composition lessons, and was very skilled at a young age. In fact, he wrote “Grande polka des chasseurs á pied de la Louisiane” when he was only 16 years old. What is even more amazing is that this is the only America piece that was published and given copyright protection to an enslaved composer.
Like other enslaved African Americans, Barés was made legally free at the end of the Civil War in 1865. But he continued to work at the same music store, which was then owned by his former enslaver’s widow. He traveled to Paris on business for the store, where he also played piano at the Paris International Exposition in 1867.
Back in New Orleans, Bar´s has become a well-known pianist. He often played with other Creole musicians and was involved in movements to help desegregate music venues in the city. He was so well-regarded that he was often hired to play for Carnival balls for members of the white community, where he also led a string band. He stayed active as a composer, and had many more compositions published for several decades after the Civil War.

References:

Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Tulane University Digital Library. Louisiana Sheet Music collection. digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:p15140coll47

Music by Black Composers. Violin Volume 1. Ludwig Masters Publications (2018). ISBN 978-1-
68296-781-2. Rachel Barton Pine Foundation. www.musicbyblackcomposers.org

credits

from Goes Free, released January 18, 2021
Cullen Burke (synth and live electronics)
Hunter Deacon (drumset)
Matt Nelson (double bass)
Jorge Variego (soprano and tenor saxophone)

Recorded @ Arch Audio in Chattanooga on December 4th.
Recording engineer: Tyler Reddick
Produced by the Domino Ensemble. Jorge Variego - Founding Director.

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Domino Ensemble Knoxville, Tennessee

The mission of the Domino Ensemble is the promotion, commission and performance of new music with improvisation. Through educational workshops and performances of new and commissioned compositions by young student composers, the Domino Ensemble serves as a unique bridge between young creative artists, their communities and future audiences. ... more

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