Talk:Anthony Snaer

Louis Snaer
Is this a different subject than Louis Snaer? FloridaArmy (talk) 17:03, 10 November 2023 (UTC)

Additional sources
I believe he's noted here. FloridaArmy (talk) 12:41, 20 August 2022 (UTC)

Relations?
Related to musician Samuel Snäer Jr.? FloridaArmy (talk) 15:58, 19 February 2022 (UTC)

The dictionary of Louisiana Biography states "SNÄER, Samuel, Jr., composer, teacher, pianist, organist, violinist, singer, of Haitian descent, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana ca. 1835. Son of Francis Snäer, a free person of color and an affluent wholesale grocer, who was an organist in one of New Orleans’ white churches, and Anne Emerine Beluche, purported to be the daughter of pirate René Beluche (q.v.). Only one source (John W. Blassingame) states that Snäer was trained in France. Although a gifted tenor, possessing both an operatic and popular song repertoire, Snäer was reticent to sing publicly, being stigmatized by his racial background. Timid, apathetic and indolent by nature, he did not seek publication of his compositions, the first at age eighteen (a song entitled “Sous sa Fenêtre”). During the 1860s, he was organist at St. Mary’s Church on Chartres Street; orchestra director at Théâtre d’Orléans in off seasons during military occupation after the Civil War, and a “principal” at Madame Couvent’s École des Orphelins Indigents, opened c. 1848, the first free school in the United States admitting African-Americans. Most of his Théâtre d’Orléans concerts were fund raisers for charitable causes. Some featured his own works and those of prominent contemporaries Basil Bares and Edmond Dédé (q.v.), drawing Creole and white audiences alike. Esteemed and sought after by poets, Snäer was considered both a litterateur and fine musician. His incredible musical memory enabled note for note recall of his scores without having seen them for decades. His works include three songs published by Louis Grunewald, 1865-66: “Sous sa Fenêtre” (words by Louis Placide Canonge[q.v.]), “Le Chant Départ” (words by Armand Garreau [q.v.]), “Rappele-Toi” (words by A. Musset); “Grazielle” (an orchestral overture); “Le Chants des Canotiers” (based on folk tunes); “Mass for Three Voices,” “Agnus Dei;” “Allegro for Grand Orchestra;” “La Bohemien;” numerous polkas, mazurkas, quadrilles, and waltzes, based largely on romantic themes. Though there is some disagreement regarding Snaer’s death date, most printed sources indicate that he died in New Orleans, 1881; The Dictionary of Negro American Biography, on the other hand, suggests possibly 1900. A.K.S. Sources: Eileen Southern, Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians (1982)". FloridaArmy (talk) 16:00, 19 February 2022 (UTC)