A Black History EMS - Sun 17th May

[ardcarp]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000j2bg

Celebrating the early cultural contribution of black people in the arts in the 17th and 18th centuries, including music by the first black man to vote in a British general election, Ignatius Sancho. There's also the musketeer Le Chevalier Meude-Monpas, 'the Black Mozart' Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-George, Brazilian composer Jose Nunes Garcia, and the real dedicatee of Beethoven's 'Kreutzer' Sonata. Lucie Skeaping presents.

After the show is over, I will post up something of the extraordinary story of a black ex-slave who was a violinist and composer living in the (then) new port of Falmouth.

[ardcarp]

A great theme for EMS. Only half the music played was written by 'black' musicians...the rest had 'connections', including the unlikely first dedicatee of Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata. Most of the educated and musical 'persons of colour' were in fact the offspring of a white plantation owner and a black slave girl..and were referred to as 'mulattoes'.

But here, as promised, is my own mini-EMS which concerns a wholly black African called Joseph Ennidy. He was taken as a slave from West Africa at the age of 15 and was transported by a Portuguese slave-ship to Brazil. Somehow (it is not known) he ended up back across the Atlantic in Lisbon where an enlightened master spotted his musical talent and organised an extensive musical training. In 1795 The Indefatigable, a Royal Naval Frigate visited Lisbon. The renowned Captain, Sir Edward Pellew spotted Ennidy playing in the 2nd violins at an orchestral concert. He ordered some of his officers to go 'backstage' and impress the young black man into naval service...because he wanted someone on board to play the violin to entertain the sailors. Ennidy was not allowed to go ashore (wherever The Indefatigable docked) for four years. Finally, at Falmouth, Ennidy was given his freedom. Falmouth was a relatively new town at the time, and was full of sailors and merchants from all over the world, so apparently had few prejudices against 'foreigners' whatever their skin colour. Two years later a Grand Miscellaneous Concert was advertised in the Royal Cornwall Gazette. It took place in Falmouth and was 'led' by Ennidy playing music including Stamitz, Eichner and Martini plus some of his own compositions. Such was his talent that news of this young black composer/violinist reached impressario Salomon in London. Some of Ennidy's scores (some string quartets and a symphony) were taken to Salomon who declared that this young prodigy should come to London at once to further his career. However, Ennidy was apparently warned that his reception as a black musician would not be good in the City. Consequently he resolved to stay in Falmouth, where he taught and played until his death in 1835. His gravestone is for all to see in a churchyard near Truro. Not a note of his music has survived....to anyone's knowledge.

I am indebted to author Philip Marsden and his book The Levelling Sea.

[Bryn]

A great theme for EMS. Only half the music played was written by 'black' musicians...the rest had 'connections', including the unlikely first dedicatee of Beethoven's Kreuzer Sonata. Most of the educated and musical 'persons of colour' were in fact the offspring of a white plantation owner and a black slave girl..and were referred to as 'mulattoes'.

But here, as promised, is my own mini-EMS which concerns a wholly black African called Joseph Ennidy. He was taken as a slave from West Africa at the age of 15 and was transported by a Portuguese slave-ship to Brazil. Somehow (it is not known) he ended up back across the Atlantic in Lisbon where an enlightened master spotted his musical talent and organised an extensive musical training. In 1795 The Indefatigable, a Royal Naval Frigate visited Lisbon. The renowned Captain, Sir Edward Pellew spotted Ennidy playing in the 2nd violins at an orchestral concert. He ordered some of his officers to go 'backstage' and impress the young black man into naval service...because he wanted someone on board to play the violin to entertain the sailors. Ennidy was not allowed to go ashore (wherever The Indefatigable docked) for four years. Finally, at Falmouth, Ennidy was given his freedom. Falmouth was a relatively new town at the time, and was full of sailors and merchants from all over the world, so apparently had few prejudices against 'foreigners' whatever their skin colour. Two years later a Grand Miscellaneous Concert was advertised in the Royal Cornwall Gazette. It took place in Falmouth and was 'led' by Ennidy playing music including Stamitz, Eichner and Martini plus some of his own compositions. Such was his talent that news of this young black composer/violinist reached impressario Salomon in London. Some of Ennidy's scores (some string quartets and a symphony) were taken to Salomon who declared that this young prodigy should come to London at once to further his career. However, Ennidy was apparently warned that his reception as a black musician would not be good in the City. Consequently he resolved to stay in Falmouth, where he taught and played until his death in 1835. His gravestone is for all to see in a churchyard near Truro. Not a note of his music has survived....to anyone's knowledge.

I am indebted to author Philip Marsden and his book The Levelling Sea.

Apropos of nothing: https://www.theguardian.com/music/to...oven-was-black

[kernelbogey]

Thanks for this Ardcarp - I read the Marsden, but had forgotten this story. (I grew up in Falmouth.)

Those who are intrigued by the Ennidy story may also be interested that David Olusoga is presenting another series of A House Through Time on BBC 2, starting next week (I think 26th). As with the previous series, he explores the house's connections to slavery - in this case, Bristol.

[groovydavidii]

Thanks Ardcarp, an excellent narrative, great pity none of Ennidy’s music survived.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks for this Ardcarp - I read the Marsden, but had forgotten this story. (I grew up in Falmouth.)

Those who are intrigued by the Ennidy story may also be interested that David Olusoga is presenting another series of A House Through Time on BBC 2, starting next week (I think 26th). As with the previous series, he explores the house's connections to slavery - in this case, Bristol.

A girlfriend lived just across the main road from that house, so I immediately recognised it! Really looking forward to this series, Olusoga always does such a brilliant job on this subject matter, hitting just the right tone.

[ardcarp]

Erratum: Sorry, the black Falmouth musician was called Joseph Emidy (not Ennidy). I must have read the book without my specs on!