Joseph Antonio Emidy

Joseph Antonio Emidy 1775 – 23 April 1835) was a slave in early life, but later became a famous and celebrated violinist and composer.

Life

Emidy was born in West Africa and was captured as a child by Portuguese traders who took him to Brazil and later to Portugal. In Portugal, he became a virtuoso violinist in the Lisbon Opera. He was press-ganged by British Admiral Sir Edward Pellew during the Napoleonic wars and spent the next four years as a ship's fiddler.

In 1799, he was abandoned in Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. In Falmouth, Emidy earned his living as a violinist and a teacher. In 1802, he married Jane Hutchins, a local tradesman’s daughter, and they had eight children. They moved to Truro around 1815. Emidy became the leader of the Truro Philharmonic Orchestra, and went on to become one of the most celebrated and influential musical figures in early 19th century Cornwall. He composed many works including concertos and a symphony but no known copies survive. [ [http://www.balh.co.uk/lhn/article.php?file=lhn-vol1iss83-6.xml Cornwall, musicians, history (British association for Local History)] ] He died in Truro and his tombstone is in Kenwyn churchyard.

Transcript of gravestone reads:
"HERE LIE DEPOSITED The mortal remains of Mr Jos:h Antonia Emidy Who departed this life, On the 23:rd of April 1835 AGED 60 YEARS"

"And sacred to whose memory This tribute of affection is erected By his surviving family."

"He was native of PORTUGAL Which country he quitted about forty years since and pursuing the Musical Profession, resided in Cornwall until the close of his earthly career."

"Devoted to thy soul-inspiring strains, Sweet Music! Thee he hail'd his chief delight And with fond zeal that shunn'd nor toil nor pain His talent sear'd, and genius mark'd its flight In harmony he liv'd, in peace with all Took his departure from this world of woe, And here his rest, till the last Trumpet's call, Shall 'wake mankind to joys that endless flow."

On 24 March 2007, during a service at Kenwyn Church to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Britain, the life of Emidy was featured and some typical pieces of music from his time were played in tribute.

ee also

* Samuel Coleridge-Taylor another black English composer (1875-1912)

ources

* Mentioned at length in autobiography of James Silk Buckingham, (MP for Sheffield) published in 1855 pp 163-172.
* My Hero Joseph Emidy, "BBC History" magazine, October 2001
* Dr Richard McGrady: "Music and Musicians in Early 19 Century Cornwall" features Emidy
* Richard McGrady, ‘Emidy, Joseph Antonia (c.1770–1835)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/69885 accessed 11 October 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.emidy.com/home Official homepage]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6464121.stm Trail marks abolition anniversary (BBC News Story)]
* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.17488 Black Lives in England: Sites of Memory: the slave trade & abolition] very detailed site with illustrations
* [http://www.jonroseweb.com/f_projects_emidy.html The Emidy Violin Concerto] A Project from Jon Rose. Accessed June 2008