Occide Jeanty (1860–1936) was a Haitian composer, trumpeter, pianist and music director.

Biography

Occide Jeanty was born in 1860 in

Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince ( , ; ht, Pòtoprens ) is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,311 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The metropolitan area is define ...

He was educated at Alexandre Pétion High School in Port-au-Prince. His father, Occilius Jeanty (1830–1882), was both director of the Central School of Music in Port-au-Prince, professor of mathematics at

Alexandre Pétion Alexandre Sabès Pétion (; April 2, 1770 – March 29, 1818) was the first president of the Republic of Haiti from 1807 until his death in 1818. He is acknowledged as one of Haiti's founding fathers; a member of the revolutionary quartet that ...

High School, and director of the Military Music Corps attached to the National Palace. After attending music classes at his father's Central School of Music, he obtained a scholarship to study at Paris with

Jean-Baptiste Arban Joseph Jean-Baptiste Laurent Arban (28 February 1825 – 8 April 1889) was a cornetist, conductor, composer, pedagogue and the first famed virtuoso of the '' cornet à piston'' or valved cornet. He was influenced by Niccolò Paganini's virtuosic ...

and Antoine François Marmontel . In 1885, back in Haiti, the Haitian President,

Lysius Salomon Louis Étienne Félicité Lysius Salomon (June 30, 1815 – October 19, 1888) was the President of Haiti from 1879 to 1888. Salomon is best remembered for instituting Haiti's first postal system and for his lively enthusiasm for Haiti's moderniz ...

, appointed him on recommendation to the National Palace's Military Music Corps. He composes mainly for the National Palace. In 1915, during the occupation of Haiti by American forces, he left the army with the rank of general. He became a music teacher at Alexandre Pétion High School in Port-au-Prince. In 1922, he was recalled by the president Louis Borno. He became the conductor of the National Guard until his death in 1936. He had about twenty children, including Lydia Occide Jeanty, Haiti's first female minister. He also had Pauline, Quetsia, Dieudonne, Zita and Carl-Henry Jeanty.

Works

Occide Jeanty composed eight military marches for the National Palace. He also composed six funeral song for Haitian dignitaries and their families, including: *''Imprécations pour Dessalines'', pour la commémoration de la mort de

Jean-Jacques Dessalines Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Haitian Creole: ''Jan-Jak Desalin''; ; 20 September 1758 – 17 October 1806) was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent First Empire of Haiti, Haiti under the Constitution of Haiti, 1 ...

. *''Cher Hyppolite'', pour la mort de

Florvil Hyppolite Louis Mondestin Florvil Hyppolite (26 May 1828 – 24 March 1896) was a Haitian general and politician who served as the President of Haiti from 17 October 1889 to 24 March 1896. Early life and career Hyppolite was born in 1827 at Cap-Haïtien ...

*''Nos l'armes'', également pour Florvil Hyppolite *''Ti Sam'', pour

Tirésias Simon Sam Paul Tirésias Augustin Simon Sam (May 15, 1835 – May 11, 1916) was the President of Haiti from 31 March 1896 to 12 May 1902. He resigned the presidency just before completing his six-year term. Biography Born in the year 1835, Tirésias Sim ...

*''Sur la tombe'' pour Nord Alexis He also composed four patriotic song, among which: *''

Quand nos Aïeux brisèrent leurs entraves ("When our Fathers Broke Their Chains") was the unofficial national anthem of Haiti from 1893 to 1903. The lyrics were written by Oswald Durand, a Haitian writer and poet. History The was originally a poem written by Oswald Durand. In 1893, a ...

'' (ou ''Chant national''), avec les paroles d'

Oswald Durand Oswald Durand (September 17, 1840 - April 22, 1906) was a Haitian poet and politician, said to be "to Haiti what William Shakespeare, Shakespeare is to England, and Dante Alighieri, Dante to Italy."P. Schutt-Ainé, ''Haiti: A Basic Reference Book ...

. *''1804''. He also composed

polkas Polka is a dance and genre of dance music originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though associated with Czech culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas. History Etymology The term ...

(''Pauvres et pauvres'' en 1901), gavottes and méringues (''Zizipan'').

References

* Dominque-Rene De Lerma. "Black Composers in Europe: A Works List." ''Black Music Research Journal''. Vol 10, No. 2. pg. 307

External links

Biographie d'Occide Jeanty

Haitian composers 1860 births 1936 deaths Male composers 19th-century composers 20th-century composers 20th-century male musicians 19th-century male musicians {{Haiti-musician-stub