Frantz Casséus (1915 - 1993) pioneered the introduction of the classical guitar in Haiti and is the acknowledged father of the Haitian classical guitar. His life project of composing original music which reflected the traditions and ‘captured the spirit’ of the music of his native Haiti may seem obvious from a contemporary standpoint: in the Haiti of the 1930s and 1940s, it was anything but. To imagine a fusion of the European classical tradition and Haitian folk music, and perceive the “Haitian spirit” as relevant and necessary to “the realm of transnational art” was a bold and shocking innovation. Casséus carried out his project with great dedication, passion, aesthetic sensitivity, and lyric genius. Here we present a new edition of his guitar compositions collected and edited by Marc Ribot, his former pupil and Alberto Mesirca, who has issued a CD which contains nearly all the works in this volume.

Preface - Notes to the pieces - Haitian Suite: 1. Petro - 2. Yanvalloux - 3. Mascaron - 4. Coumbite - Deux Pièces Caractéristiques: 1. Congo - 2. Rara - Simbi - Dance of the Hounsies - On Sunday - Prelude No. 1 - Romance - Valse - Serenade Lointaine - Cahnson (Atibon) - Prelude (No. 2) - Merengue - Improvisation - Romance (1978) - Untitled July 17, 1957 - Works from Notebook No. 99: Lullaby in C Major - Nan Guinin - Etude No. 1 - Meringue No.2 - Untitled in A Major - Chanson in A Major - Chanson in E Minor - Lullaby-Dodo Titit Manman - Just for you and me - Yanvalou - Nibo - Sobo - Vie Bègue - Haiti (original title: Haitian Merengue) - Adieu Foulard (original title: Chanson Creole) - Atibon (Version 2) - Meringue Frangeul - Ballad in B Minor - Untitled (November 4-41)