Concert Life in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans: A Comprehensive Reference

1. Louis Hus Desforges

141 1 Louis Hus Desforges Pioneer Conductor and Violinist L ouis Hus Desforges is among the earliest professional musicians to have made a career performing in concerts in New Orleans. He was born about 1776 in La Rochelle, France,1 and was in New Orleans by August 7, 1799, when he married Isavel Victoria Dupre. The following year, on June 12, 1800, Isavel gave birth to a son, Louis Hus Desforges Jr.2 Desforges first appeared in concert, as an arranger, on Tuesday, December 17, 1805, in a program benefitting M B. Brun. Here his arrangement for grand orchestra of the “President’s March” opened the program. Given the fact that he is known later as a conductor, it is possible that Desforges also conducted the orchestra throughout the concert, which included several overtures, two concertos , and additional works.3 We can only speculate as to why he was in New Orleans at this time, but it is probable that Desforges was one of the few professional musicians hired to play in and even lead the orchestra at the Salle Accoutum ée for plays, operas, and dances. A year later, the press began to report on Desforges’s seemingly increased activity as a professional musician. Desforges himself had his first known benefit concert on January 19, 1807,4 and, two weeks later, he performed as a violinist in a concert featuring his own Violin Concerto.5 He repeated the concerto on or about February 18.6 The following fall his Allemande à Grand Orchestra was on a benefit program for M Remondet.7 He performed a violin concerto by the amateur M Blache, with orchestra, on December 29, 1807.8 That Desforges was earning his living as a professional violinist is evinced by his having regular bene fit concerts and his name never carrying the rubric “amateur” as in the case of M Blache. On March 7, 1808, he performed a violin concerto by Fodor in a bene fit concert for Mme Nicolai,9 and the following week he participated in a trio by Pleyel in a benefit for Mme Labat. His arrangement of “President’s March” (now entitled “Hail Columbia”) was also on the program.10 On September 24, 142 | Concert Life in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans 1808, he was clearly listed as a conductor for the first time. He conducted his own two Valses for grand orchestra during an intermède between two comedies at the Théâtre de la Gaîté.11 On December 23, 1808, he conducted one of his most popular works, La Querelle Musicale, at the Saint Louis Theater in a bene fit for himself and clarinetist Philip Laroque; he also played a violin concerto by Pleyel.12 The following January 3 and 13 he performed his own Symphonie Concertante for violin and violoncello, with Mr. Minière on the latter instrument ,13 and his La Querelle musicale was repeated on February 18 in the Salle Accoutumée.14 During the next year, Desforges continued as a regular at concerts in New Orleans. He performed Blache’s Violin Concerto again, on March 9, 1809, at the Saint Peter Street Theater in a benefit for Mlle Laurette Fleury.15 Another benefit concert for Desforges occurred on November 2 that year, when he played a Viotti concerto and had two of his own compositions performed: a march dedicated to President Madison and Le Querelle M Sigale, for large orchestra .16 On February 14, 1810, he participated in two works: a Sextuor Concertant by M Laroque for clarinet (Fortier), violin (Desforges), horn (Labat), and bass (Minière),17 and the Viotti Symphonie Concertante for two violins (with the amateur Amat).18 On February 28, at the Salle Accoutumée, Desforges switched to the viola and joined with violoncellist Minière in a duet sonata by the German violoncellist Christophe Schetky (1740–73).19 The following November 14, Desforges played an anonymous violin concerto and heard his arrangement of the arietta “Céleste Mélodie” for singer (Mr. Rochefort) with both guitar and orchestral accompaniment; he also introduced his son Louis Hus Jr., age nine, performing in a trio for two violins and bass (the son performed the first violin part).20 Whatever the reason, we do not find Desforges in another concert for over a year. On January 16, 1812, he reappeared at the Saint Philip Street Theater in a benefit for the widow of M Bayon; he played a concerto...