Edmond Dédé (1827-1901) was an American violinist, composer, and conductor born into a free Black family in New Orleans. As a young violin prodigy, he studied with Constantin Debergue and Ludovico Gabici before traveling to Mexico for additional training. Upon returning to New Orleans in 1851, he began working as a cigar roller to save enough money to relocate to Paris and study at the Conservatory. An award-winning student, he immediately began publishing his own works and conducting the premieres with L’Alcazar Orchestre. Dédé held this conducting position for more than twenty years during which he garnered international acclaim. He was also the assistant conductor at the Grand Théâtre and the Folies bordelaises.
Dédé’s large-scale works include Mon Pauvre Coeur, Quasimodo Symphony, Le Palmier Overture, Le Serment de L’Arabe, Mephisto Masque, Morgiane, ou, Le sultan d’Ispahan.
In 1893 Dédé returned to the U.S. for an extensive tour, but he left in 1894 due to systemic racial inequities and segration. His song “La patriotisme” is a musical farewell mourning the shortcomings of his country of origin.
Resources
Sources
Hanson, Christopher T.F. “Dédé, Edmond.” Grove Music Online. 2010.
McKee, Sally. The exile’s song : Edmond Dédé and the Unfinished Revolutions of the Atlantic World. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2017.
Works Featured on Expanding the Music Theory Canon
Méphisto Masqué
Excerpt
Page: Triads
Rondeau from Francoise et Tortillard
Excerpt
Page: Passing Tone
Duo from Françoise et Tortillard
Excerpt
Page: Modal Mixture, Augmented 6th
Chicago
Excerpt
Page: Modal Mixture
Mirliton fin de Siècle
Full Score
Page: Ternary
El Pronunciamento
Full Score
Page: Ternary
Introduction from Méphisto Masqué
Excerpt
Page: viio6, viio7+inversions
Ouverture from Françoise et Tortillard
Excerpt
Page: 6/4 Chords
Introduction from Chicago
Excerpt
Page: Augmented 6th