Guyler C. Delva, the resigning Minister of Culture welcomes the departure and memory of former Colonel Ipharès Blain (born in Port-au-Prince on March 22, 1926), a great Haitian icon of the national and international scholarly music whose the passing away in Port-au-Prince, occurred on August 2, 2018, at the age of 96 years.

Minister Delva bows to the remains of the Colonel-musician and thanks him with reverence for having dedicated his life to the service of the country as a soldier and, in particular, as Founder of the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Choir of Haiti. He was also the Founder and Conductor of the National Palace Fanfare.

"It is all sectors of the national life that join the Ministry to express their deepest sympathy to the family members of the missing Colonel, his brothers-in-arms and musicians and the whole Republic weeping.

Decorated by President Moïse in June 2017, from the National Order of Honor and Merit to the rank of Officer https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21372-haiti-politics-moise-decorates-the-founder-of-the-fanfare-of-national-palace.html . "May the musical career and military discipline of Colonel-musician Ipharès Blain, serve as examples to the Haitian youth and future generations."

Please note that Sunday, August 12, 2018, the National School of Arts (ENARTS) will pay tribute (from 4:00 to 8:00 pm) to the memory of Ipharès Blain and that of Jean Rodolphe Doirin https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25056-haiti-social-message-of-sympathy-from-enarts.html

Learn more about Ipharès Blain's musical career :

Upon his return from 4 years of music study in France, in 1960, he was professor of wind instruments at the National Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Arts. He has trained several generations of musicians both at the level of the orchestra of the National Palace and in the private. He was professor of Music at the National School of Arts of which he was one of founding fathers. Last year again, he taught harmony and counterpoint in this institution.

Composer emeritus, he composed seven masses (in Latin, French and Creole) including his famous Requiem, Mass in D minor which was performed for the first time at the cathedral of Port-au-Prince during the commemoration of the first year of the death of the late President François Duvalier in 1972.

He also composed several military marches, meringues, and an opera in Creole. The latter was a first in the history of Haitian and universal music.

It should be noted that during the 60s, 70s and 80s, Colonel Iphares Blain embodies the pride of the Haitian scholarly music. He has been considered as the almost absolute reference in music especially in terms of composition.

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre