Hey Mr. Dede great to
meet you! My names is Darius and today were going to talk about you and your
life and I’m going to ask you a few questions and if there are any problems
just tell me, you ready?
Yes I Am Darius
Q. Alright to start off where you are from? And what is your family like?
A. I am from New Orleans Louisiana. My father was bandmaster for a militia unit and my mother and his mother didn’t have a job at the time. I believe that is what inspired me to become the musician I am today. I had a lot of potential as a young boy but music really stuck with me. I am very glad it did.
Q. So I understand you’re involved in the arts, what got you interested to start off?
A. My father was a professional musician of French West Indian origin One of the few free black people in the south of the United States. I wanted to become an outstanding violinist; I worked very hard to make it. I had to earn money somehow. So by day I was a cigar maker, by night I worked at orchestras.
Q. Where there any mentors in your life that pushed you to be greater?
A. Mentors play a very big part Darius. If it was not for my father I would not be the man I am today. As I said before he got me interested in music from his occupation. But other people like Constantin Debergue, a local free black violinist and director of the local Philharmonic Society gave me lessons to further improve my skills. I believed they greatly helped.
Q. Now touring the world you go to a lot of places what was the world like in the particular field you went in?
Yes I Am Darius
Q. Alright to start off where you are from? And what is your family like?
A. I am from New Orleans Louisiana. My father was bandmaster for a militia unit and my mother and his mother didn’t have a job at the time. I believe that is what inspired me to become the musician I am today. I had a lot of potential as a young boy but music really stuck with me. I am very glad it did.
Q. So I understand you’re involved in the arts, what got you interested to start off?
A. My father was a professional musician of French West Indian origin One of the few free black people in the south of the United States. I wanted to become an outstanding violinist; I worked very hard to make it. I had to earn money somehow. So by day I was a cigar maker, by night I worked at orchestras.
Q. Where there any mentors in your life that pushed you to be greater?
A. Mentors play a very big part Darius. If it was not for my father I would not be the man I am today. As I said before he got me interested in music from his occupation. But other people like Constantin Debergue, a local free black violinist and director of the local Philharmonic Society gave me lessons to further improve my skills. I believed they greatly helped.
Q. Now touring the world you go to a lot of places what was the world like in the particular field you went in?
A. I have been many
places with many different customs. For violin tours I have been to the United
States of course, Europe, Paris and many more places as well. But to answer
your question it had its ups and downs. Getting standing ovations at my concert
May 10th where I played “Quasimodo Symphony”. Then losing my violin
on a sea voyage back to the United States. That really changed my plans. I had
a concert in my home town New Orleans. But I can play other instruments as well
it all worked in my favor.
Q. While you were traveling did any major cultural, economic and political situation impact your work?
A. Yes they all have affected me and my work. One time I had to flee from a country because of white hostility against African American musicians. I was force to flee to Mexico, where I continued my training in the arts. But as you can see my devoting to music kept me from quitting music. Like the song I made “Mon pauvre Coeur” it hurts but if you love it you can move on. As far as economic and political situations, they didn’t affect me.
Q. What were your major accomplishments and the methods you used in your art?
A. Some major accomplishments I have achieved are being a violin prodigy! I earned that title when I was a young boy. Also having very many amazing concerts if I may so myself. I conducted at the Alcazar Theater for 27 years which I find to be a great feat don’t you think so Mr. Brown? As far as methods I feel I have been a natural at my talents I always loved to give what I could to make people happy.
Q. What were the key opportunities you had that led to turning points in your life and art?
A. Well as I said before my father got my interested in music and on from there I had people who gave me a push in my career like Constantin Debergue, who gave me lessons to improve my skill. Playing tours in The United States got me tours in other countries like Paris and more places. I had to take advantage of the good things that came to me.
Q. What hardships or roadblocks did you have to overcome in order to be an artist?
A. Being African American I could almost expect racist hate. It temporarily slowed me down but I quickly got back on track. I had to also get past my lack of money too. But to end that problem I worked at a cigar factory during the day and orchestras at night. But other than those few things my career really was not that difficult it terms of what I had to overcome.
Q. Who are people that you admire both in the arts and beyond and why do they inspire you?
A. My father is my biggest inspiration to me by far. He got me interested in music in general. At some parts of their life all males need a father figure and they want to be them. My father took that role for me. Also Constantin Debergue gave me some inspiration to go forward by giving me lessons for my instrument. But what both these people have in common is that they both gave me something I used for the rest of my life and I thank them both.
Q. What personal stories best illustrate how you became successful in the arts?
A. I do not have any stories in particular that really break down how I became successful in the arts but hard work played a big part. If you are devoted enough you will be able to create your own story in life and be successful in what you want to go on in. I guess in a way this is my story. What do you think Darius?
Darius: I believe that’s a great answer Mr. Dede! Thanks so much for coming out here today and letting me talk to you. It’s been a pleasure, have a great day.
Dede: Thanks for having me
End of interview.
Work Cited Page
. "Edmond Dede." Naxos.com. Naxos Digital Services, 01 March 2012. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://www.naxos.com/person/Edmond_Dede/22542.htm>.
.Estrella, Fi Espierst. "Profile of Edmond Dede." Music Education. The NewYork Times Company, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012.
. "Composers Of African Decent." AfriClassical. N.p., 09, November, 2009. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/others.html>.
. "Edmond Dede." Frenchcreoles. Copyright French Creoles of America, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://www.frenchcreoles.com/MusicEvents/edmonddede/edmonddede.htm>.
. "Edmond Dede." Wikipedia . Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 18 February 2012 . Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Dédé>.
. "Edmond Dede Letter." Edmond Dede Letter. N.p., 30 January 2011. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://library.uno.edu/specialcollections/inventories/117.htm>.
. "Black Composers and Musicians in Classical Music History." Black past. Humanities Washington, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://www.blackpast.org/?q=perspectives/black-composers-and-musicians-classical-music-history>.
. "Pre-civil warMusicians." Rosebrook Classical. Rosebrook Media, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://rosebrookclassical.com/2010/02/celebrating-black-history-month-pre-civil-war-musicians/>.
. "Edmond Dede." Mirto Images. Mitro images, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://images.mitrasites.com/edmond-dede.html>.
. "Creole Composers." Geneation Mixed. Yahoo Inc, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/2877>.
. "Edmond Dédé." Hot springs music festival. N.p., n.d. Web. Hot springs music festival. <http://hotmusic.org/442/edmond-dede/>
Q. While you were traveling did any major cultural, economic and political situation impact your work?
A. Yes they all have affected me and my work. One time I had to flee from a country because of white hostility against African American musicians. I was force to flee to Mexico, where I continued my training in the arts. But as you can see my devoting to music kept me from quitting music. Like the song I made “Mon pauvre Coeur” it hurts but if you love it you can move on. As far as economic and political situations, they didn’t affect me.
Q. What were your major accomplishments and the methods you used in your art?
A. Some major accomplishments I have achieved are being a violin prodigy! I earned that title when I was a young boy. Also having very many amazing concerts if I may so myself. I conducted at the Alcazar Theater for 27 years which I find to be a great feat don’t you think so Mr. Brown? As far as methods I feel I have been a natural at my talents I always loved to give what I could to make people happy.
Q. What were the key opportunities you had that led to turning points in your life and art?
A. Well as I said before my father got my interested in music and on from there I had people who gave me a push in my career like Constantin Debergue, who gave me lessons to improve my skill. Playing tours in The United States got me tours in other countries like Paris and more places. I had to take advantage of the good things that came to me.
Q. What hardships or roadblocks did you have to overcome in order to be an artist?
A. Being African American I could almost expect racist hate. It temporarily slowed me down but I quickly got back on track. I had to also get past my lack of money too. But to end that problem I worked at a cigar factory during the day and orchestras at night. But other than those few things my career really was not that difficult it terms of what I had to overcome.
Q. Who are people that you admire both in the arts and beyond and why do they inspire you?
A. My father is my biggest inspiration to me by far. He got me interested in music in general. At some parts of their life all males need a father figure and they want to be them. My father took that role for me. Also Constantin Debergue gave me some inspiration to go forward by giving me lessons for my instrument. But what both these people have in common is that they both gave me something I used for the rest of my life and I thank them both.
Q. What personal stories best illustrate how you became successful in the arts?
A. I do not have any stories in particular that really break down how I became successful in the arts but hard work played a big part. If you are devoted enough you will be able to create your own story in life and be successful in what you want to go on in. I guess in a way this is my story. What do you think Darius?
Darius: I believe that’s a great answer Mr. Dede! Thanks so much for coming out here today and letting me talk to you. It’s been a pleasure, have a great day.
Dede: Thanks for having me
End of interview.
Work Cited Page
. "Edmond Dede." Naxos.com. Naxos Digital Services, 01 March 2012. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://www.naxos.com/person/Edmond_Dede/22542.htm>.
.Estrella, Fi Espierst. "Profile of Edmond Dede." Music Education. The NewYork Times Company, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012.
. "Composers Of African Decent." AfriClassical. N.p., 09, November, 2009. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/others.html>.
. "Edmond Dede." Frenchcreoles. Copyright French Creoles of America, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://www.frenchcreoles.com/MusicEvents/edmonddede/edmonddede.htm>.
. "Edmond Dede." Wikipedia . Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 18 February 2012 . Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Dédé>.
. "Edmond Dede Letter." Edmond Dede Letter. N.p., 30 January 2011. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://library.uno.edu/specialcollections/inventories/117.htm>.
. "Black Composers and Musicians in Classical Music History." Black past. Humanities Washington, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://www.blackpast.org/?q=perspectives/black-composers-and-musicians-classical-music-history>.
. "Pre-civil warMusicians." Rosebrook Classical. Rosebrook Media, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://rosebrookclassical.com/2010/02/celebrating-black-history-month-pre-civil-war-musicians/>.
. "Edmond Dede." Mirto Images. Mitro images, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://images.mitrasites.com/edmond-dede.html>.
. "Creole Composers." Geneation Mixed. Yahoo Inc, n.d. Web. 2 Mar 2012. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Generation-Mixed/message/2877>.
. "Edmond Dédé." Hot springs music festival. N.p., n.d. Web. Hot springs music festival. <http://hotmusic.org/442/edmond-dede/>
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