The development of the Haitian classical music takes its origin all the way back to the independence of Haiti.  The Haitian classical music (mizik savant ayisyen) had a distinctivepalette based on French models of culture then later African musical concept was added to it.  The mizik savant ayisyen was called the music of the elite.

In 1807, musical education became part of the curriculum of the greatest schools in the country.  Around 1817, the teaching of music appreciation, solfegio, voice and instrumental technique was outlined by the department of public instruction.  In 1830, was born a great man Occilius Jeanty, Sr. mathematics, music composition, and  teaching were his strength.  Among his musical works were some overtures, chanson creoles, and Haitian meringues.  The meringue was a musical genre that is obviously carrying an African influence, a mixture of Petro and Congo, a set of complex rhythms found in the vodu culture as part of the Ifa corpus.  Therefore, the meringue possesses its own style expressing the soul of the Haitian people.

In this anthology presented by the Cultural Enlightenment Association of Ife, the past is meeting the present to shape the future. You will be enjoying the works of Occide Jeanty (Invocation), a meringue and a waltz by Solon Verret, two old chants from the mountains anda Haitian legend by Justin Elie, Scherzo and Sobo  are directly taken from the vodu idiom and a meringue (La Dangereuse) by Ludovic Lamothe.