Dear All, 

Here is a link to a radio play that we would be very happy if you can make us of, or simply enjoy.

Black Spartacus: a radio play by Anthony Maddalena
Produced by Thee Black Swan Theatre & Opera Company
http://www.theeblackswan.co.uk/index.php 

In 2010 Thee Black Swan Theatre & Opera Company produced a radio play about the Haitian slave revolt, written by Thee Black Swan board member Anthony Maddalena. With material drawn from the Madison Smartt Bell Haitian trilogy the play examines the issue of leadership in the revolution and the relationships between the three key leaders, Toussaint, Dessalines and Christophe as well as exploring the role of religion in the genesis of the revolt and its trajectory.

The play is now hosted online by The Wireless Theatre Company online and it can be listened to here:

http://www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk/

Click on Login to sign up (It’s free, but you need to register). Navigate to the Drama section. Otherwise here are links to the four episodes:

Episode 1:
http://www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk/index.php/component/jotloader?Itemid=15&cid=2&id=164 

Episode 2:
http://www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk/index.php/component/jotloader?Itemid=15&cid=2&id=165

Episode 3:
http://www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk/index.php/component/jotloader?Itemid=15&cid=2&id=166

Episode 4:
http://www.wirelesstheatrecompany.co.uk/index.php/component/jotloader?Itemid=15&cid=2&id=167

We would be very pleased if you are able to use this recording as an educational resource. We would welcome feedback and comments, particularly is you have been able to use this in some way – we would like to know how it has been useful and what the response to it is.

In addition, Thee Black Swan is currently working on staging William Grant Still’s opera ‘Troubled Island’ and are seeking assistance with the development of this, in particular musicians and singers. If you are able to help us please do get in contact with me.

With thanks,

Adrian Leibowitz
Board member Thee Black Swan Theatre & Opera Company

Details of the production:
CAST
Marie: Judy Hepburn; Mambo Cecile: Lavern Archer; Boukman Dutty: Ben Onwukwe; Madam de Libertat: Claire Jeater; Toussaint L’Ouverture: Willie Jonah; Bayon de Libertat: Robert Maskell; Suzanne: Olive Miller; Placide: Darien Charles/Anthony Maddalena; The Comte de Charlevoix: Alan Guy; Biassou: Bob Phillips; Rigaud: Allister Bain; Beauvais: Bhasker Patel; Jean-Jacques Dessalines: Geoffrey Burton; Henri Christophe: Ewart James Walters; Dead Spirit: Joe Charles; General Laveaux: Robert Maskell; English Redcoat: Alan Guy; Other parts played by members of the cast

There were four principal sources of music selected for the radio play production of Black Spartacus.

1] Signature tune
Dame Marie Selphia “Sesenne” Descartes, National Cultural Hero of St. Lucia: Sourced from a home made recording in the possession of the Director of Thee Black Swan Theatre Company. “Sesenne has been the recipient of the British Empire Medal (B.E.M.) in 1972 and the St. Lucia Medal of Merit (SLMM). In 2000, she was awarded the honour of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (D.B.E.) for folk culture and art and community service on the occasion of St. Lucia’s 25th anniversary of independence.”

2] Vodou liturgy:
Selections from Rhythms of Rapture: Sacred Musics of Haitian Vodou, issued by Smithsonian Folkways, compiled by Dr. Elizabeth McAlister:

(a) Azouke Legba (Dans Kanari)

(b) Kadja Kadja Nou Tande (Grennadye Rhythm)

Suggested to Thee Black Swan for inclusion by Dr. Elizabeth McAlister

3] French fiddle tune:
En passant par la Lorraine, Auprès de ma blonde and Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre
Sourced from Fiddle Tunes of the Lewis & Clark Era performed by The New Caledonia Fiddlers issued by Voyager Records in 2002

The Lewis and Clark era refers to the expedition to explore and map the area of the United States acquired after the Louisiana Purchase – the land sold to the US Government by France following their defeat in Haiti.
“The journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-1806 frequently mention the fiddling of Peter Cruzatte and George Gibson, members of the Corps. The tunes played were not listed in the journals, so we can only make an educated guess as to what they were. Research by champion Pacific Northwest fiddler and historian Vivian Williams, and by noted Missouri fiddler and historian Dr. Howard Marshall, uncovered many popular tunes of the era.”

Permission acquired for use.

4] Joseph de Bologne, Le Chevalier de Saint-George (1745-1799)
The Complete Symphonies Concertantes, Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra
Track 7: Rondeau

Joseph de Bologne, Le Chevalier de Saint-George An Afro-French Composer, Violinist & Conductor from Guadeloupe and France's Best Fencer & Colonel of Black Legion.

Music sourced from CD release distributed by Avenira Foundation, Lucerne, Switzerland. This Foundation has “championed humanitarian causes since 1979 and is particularly in interested in the struggle against slavery, and has undertaken to revive the memory of one of the most interesting musical figures of the eighteenth century: Joseph de Bologne, Le Chevalier de Saint-George.”

Permission applied for.

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