1948, year of creation or foundation of “Northern Jazz”.
1950: year when Hulric Pierre-Louis takes the musical direction of the orchestra.
1955, After a short absence, the current Founder and Chief Executive Officer (FPDG), Hulric Pierre-Louis, emerges as the group’s natural leader; competence and charisma oblige. Recruitment of the great singer Roger Colas.
Tubes from the years 48-58: Mambo Hunchback, Baptism Ratt. The latter was successfully taken up by Nemours jean-Baptiste
1963: Release of the first “Microsillon – 33 laps” (Mono Hi-Fi – 30 cms.).
Tube: Cité du Cap-Haïtien
It was also the time, between 1963 and 1966, when the orchestra crossed a zone of turbulence, depending on the prevailing socio-political environment.
1964: Conquest of the Capital, starting from the whole republic. Huge success of his performances at Djumbala and Ciné Capitol.
1966: First triumphant tour of North America
Inauguration of the Feu Vert Night Club, the first Haitian night club, owned by a Haitian orchestra.
1967: Marc Duverger and Hulric Pierre-Louis create the COSEPT label for the production of the orchestra’s new albums.
1968: Grand celebration of the twentieth anniversary. A Canadian musician, living in his yatch in Cape Bay, Paul Massicot composes the hit for the season: Septen, you see the sea. The orchestra is at its peak.
1969: Triumphal participation in Carnival 69 of Port-au-Prince. The merié Misié Bonga was a colossal success. The masked ball in Djoumbala was an apotheosis.
In July, Alfred Moïse composed Appolo 11 in tribute to the three American astronauts who were the first to set foot on the moon. A highlight for the history of Humanity and for the Northern Orchestra.
1973: Grand celebration of the 25th anniversary
Inauguration of SEPTEN THEATER
Memorable performances by the orchestra at Madison Square Garden and at Brooklyn Academy College, in New York. The orchestra brings back trophies.
Production of an album with the great Ecuadorian singer Hugo Henrique.
1978, year of the celebrations of the thirtieth anniversary of the Northern orchestra; celebrations that could have had a commemorative coloring. That year, in fact, on February 12, a traffic accident in a bus bringing members of the orchestra, caused mourning and desolation within the Septent family; an event which cast doubt on the continuity or the very existence of the Northern Orchestra.
1986 Great mourning for Septentrional. Three months apart, and without even mourning “Loulou” Etienne, who died in October 1985, Roger Colas, in September, and Alfred “Frédo” Moïse, in December, took their turn on the “grand voyage” .
1988: Celebration in the apotheosis of the 40th anniversary.
1995, year when, ten years approximately, after the loss of the “brilliant trio”: Loulou ~ Colas ~ Frédo, a wind of revival blew on the existence of Septentrional thanks to the coordinated actions of the orchestra and its various support committees both from Haiti and from abroad on the one hand and on the other hand, the inclusion, in the orchestra, of musicians and composers known as of the “new generation” who brought, to Septentrional, new blood .
Reconquest of North America and Paris (Porte de La Chapelle, 2000 spectators)
1996: Seminar bringing together supporters of the Orchestra from around the world in Montreal, Canada. Resolutions were made for a new musical and structural orientation for the orchestra.
1997: Production of the “TEMWAIAJ” album which was a great success. Many musical groups of the new generation took pride in performing the hit.
Triumphal tour of North America
1998: Almost three decades after this tragic accident on Sunday February 12, 1978, and more than twenty years after this fatal year 1986, year after year, the intrinsic values of the Northern Orchestra, a pure product provincial government, allowed him to resist the repeated assaults of evolution, to celebrate, Monday, July 27, 1998, his golden anniversary with Haitian music of social and popular dance.
President René Garcia Préval decorates the FPDG and the musicians of the Northern Orchestra.
US President William Jefferson Clinton writes to Hulric Pierre-Louis, co-founder of the orchestra, maestro and CEO, and congratulates him and the musicians.
Thus, the first fifty years of existence and intense professional life were completed, without discontinuity or change of scenery or change of location, thus crossing all socio-political currents, from Dumarsais Estimé to René Préval I, since its foundation on Tuesday 27 July 1948 at 4:20 a.m. until today, never giving in, ostensibly, to pressure or compromise.
“Veni, Vidi, Vici!”
No history, to date, known, in our country, Haiti. »
1998 to the present: New generation period, renewal period.
The orchestra integrates young musicians and recruits a competent musical director in the person of Nikol Lévy. The renewal is felt even at the level of the new compositions. The orchestra and its leaders, in their concern for sustainability, are aimed at young audiences. The spectacular participation of the Grand Northern Orchestra, the institution’s new name, at Musique en Folie in November 2007, the triumphal international tour at the end of 2007 testify to this.
2007: New structural orientations
Studies on the new company SEPTENTRIONAL
Summer 2007: Huge success at the various patronal festivals.
Fall 2007: Tribute from COSOS and the Town Hall of Pétion-Ville to Roger Colas. A stele to recall his memory is placed at the place where he fell on the road to Brothers. It was revealed by the mayor of Pétion-Ville.
Apotheotic participation in Musique en Folie at the Canne-à-sucre Historical Park. Hulric Pierre-Louis receives a plaque of honor.
Public tribute from the COSOS of the Ministry of Culture and Communication and from the Town Hall of Port-au-Prince at the Occide Jeanty kiosk in Champ-de-Mars to the co-founder of the Grand Northern Orchestra, Mr. Hulric Pierre-Louis
Creation of the HULRIC PIERRE-LOUIS MUSIC EXCELLENCE AWARD by the Ministry of Culture and Communication which will be awarded every 22 November, Saint Cecilia’s Day, to a seasoned Haitian instrumentalist.
Band Members
Késmy Doréus(Keyboard)Band Leader
Daniel Brave(Singer)
Yvenel Etienne(Singer)
Odanio Sainté(Keyboard)
Jean Willy Gustave(Guitar)
Kennel Antoine(Guitar)
Jean Renaud Nhomme(Alto Sax)
Fanex Devi(Alto Sax)
Marc Antoine Fleury(Trumpet)
Rubens Altéma(Trumpet)
Fritzner Pierre(Drums)
Kersty Sinsmyr(Conga)
Sources: Wilfrid Tony Hyppolite, Berne Paul, Islam Etienne, Ralph Boncy, Ed Riner Sainvil and others…
