Guitar Works

Edición de / Edited by: Mesirca, Alberto / Ribot, Marc

Frantz Casséus (1915 - 1993) pioneered the introduction of the classical guitar in Haiti and is the acknowledged father of the Haitian classical guitar. His life project of composing original music which reflected the traditions and ?captured the spirit? of the music of his native Haiti may seem obvious from a contemporary standpoint: in the Haiti of the 1930s and 1940s, it was anything but. To imagine a fusion of the European classical tradition and Haitian folk music, and perceive the "Haitian spirit" as relevant and necessary to "the realm of transnational art" was a bold and shocking innovation. Casséus carried out his project with great dedication, passion, aesthetic sensitivity, and lyric genius. Here we present a new edition of his guitar compositions collected and edited by Marc Ribot, his former pupil and Alberto Mesirca, who has issued a CD which contains nearly all the works in this volume.

CONTENIDO:

Preface
Notes to the pieces
Haitian Suite: 1. Petro
2. Yanvalloux
3. Mascaron
4. Coumbite
Deux Pièces Caractéristiques: 1. Congo
2. Rara
Simbi
Dance of the Hounsies
On Sunday
Prelude No. 1
Romance
Valse
Serenade Lointaine
Cahnson (Atibon)
Prelude (No. 2)
Merengue
Improvisation
Romance (1978)
Untitled July 17, 1957
Works from Notebook No. 99: Lullaby in C Major
Nan Guinin
Etude No. 1
Meringue No.2
Untitled in A Major
Chanson in A Major
Chanson in E Minor
Lullaby-Dodo Titit Manman
Just for you and me
Yanvalou
Nibo
Sobo
Vie Bègue
Haiti (original title: Haitian Merengue)
Adieu Foulard (original title: Chanson Creole)
Atibon (Version 2)
Meringue Frangeul
Ballad in B Minor
Untitled (November 4-41)