Monthly Archives: August 2014

Quebec Tune of the Month for August 2014: La Grondeuse

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Here’s a tune from Franco-American fiddler Wilfred Guillette (1913-2004). Born in Massachusetts, Wilfred lived most of his life in Vermont. He began playing fiddle at the age of thirteen, inspired by his father’s playing. By the age of sixteen, Wilfred and his father were twin fiddling and “clogging” their feet. Wilfred played his whole life and was a favorite at the contest scene in northeast New England, often backed up on piano by his wife Aline.

“La Grondeuse” is a family of fiddle tunes most commonly played in the key of D with the fiddle tuned ADAE. There are generally two or more parts, one of which starts on the upper octave of the scale and winds it way down to the open D, the other of which is pitched on the lower octave, and prominently features the use of the low open-A string, often in 3/2 meter or mixed 2/2 and 3/2 meters.

You can hear Wilfred Guillette playing “La Grondeuse” on the Green Mountain Records LP Wilfred Guillette,Old Time Fiddlin’ (GMS 1061–out of print, I fear) and on the Media Generation documentary, New England Fiddles.

La Grondeuse (dance speed, mp3)[wpdm_file id=387]

La Grondeuse (sheet music, pdf) [wpdm_file id=387]

Fall 2014 News: New Album, Classes, Tours, etc.

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September greetings! Summer seems to be lingering here in the Pacific Northwest–it’s a gift in the form of beautifully sunny warm weather and abundant garden produce. It’s been that kind of summer musically as well. The parenting years of being a largely stay-at-home musician are just about done, so I stuck a toe back in the water in June, July, and August to celebrate and tour Le Bruit Court Dans la Ville’s new album, Les vents qui ventent. André, Normand and I played 19 festivals, concerts, and workshops in British Columbia, Québec, and France. 

The Fall is lining up to be pretty bountiful as well: a Contradance-Friendly Quebec Session Class started September 14th, and I’m taking new students as well for private lessons. In October 10-12, Le Bruit has concerts and workshops at the Rendez-Vous ès TRAD 2014 in Quebec City, as well as a few side concerts in Montreal and the Joliette region. Also in October, the 5th Annual Quebec House Party in Portland (a free, DYI evening of dancing, music, and good times) with caller Suzanne Girardot). 

November 5-12, I’ll be hitting the road for a concert tour in California and Oregon, this time with Johnny B. Connolly and Dan Compton–touring a blend of Québécois, Irish, and honking old-time tunes, served up with a side of original compositions and songs.

Add into the mix monthly Quebec and Cajun jams here in Portland. Hope you can make some of these events! Read on for details, and all the best,

Lisa

October 2014:  Quebec Concerts,
5th Annual Quebecois House Party in Portland
If you happen to be in Quebec Oct. 10-12, you can catch Le Bruit court dans la ville in concert. We’ll be celebrating our new album (Les vents qui ventent–-more about that below). For concert details, check:
Oct. 10: Centre régional d’animation du patrimoine oral (St-Jean-Matha)
Oct. 12: SPTDQ (Montreal)
Please note that at the time of this newsletter, there are no details posted for the Oct. 10 and 12 dates. Check back soon!
If you can’t make it to Quebec, here’s the next best thing!
SATURDAY, October 18, 2014 at 8pm:

The 5th Annual Quebecois House Party & Dance Party!   

Based on the informal DYI kitchen tonks I used to go to in Quebec, we’ll be in party mode, with potluck food, snacks, and drink, and visits with good friends. Of course, music is bound to break out of such convivial surroundings, and the dancing is not far behind. We’ll get going at 8pm.

Dancing! Ace callers Suzanne Girardot and Carol Piening will be on hand to guide dancers through the joys of traditional Quebecois quadrilles, squares, reels, brandies and more. Step dancing is welcome and heartily encouraged (please bring your dance board).

Music!  You are invited to join in an open band to play for dancing.   Bring your instrument along with your dancing shoes!  If you are planning to join the band, could you drop me a line to say so? Thanks so much!

NEWS: Suzanne plans to call the 5th and 6th parts of the Valcartier Set. That means reels. Some good reels for those parts of the quadrille would be Wind that Shook the Barley, Sheepskin and Beeswax, Reel St-Joseph, Reel St-Antoine, etc.

Food/Drink  It wouldn’t be a party without potluck snacks and drinks, so please bring your special Quebecois dish, or any finger food or drink.

Location!  SE Portland. Please contact me for details. 

Cost: Free! Tips are happily accepted for the callers, who are traveling from Seattle and Olympia. 

Questions: Contact me!

November 2014: Oregon, California Tour
with Johnny Connolly and Dan Compton

 In November, I’ll be heading out for some house concerts in the Bay area and southern Oregon with musical partners-in-crime Dan Compton and Johnny Connolly. Dan and I have been playing together off and on for the past six years. Johnny is an outstanding Irish accordion virtuoso who also plays honkin’ old-time music (he cut his old-time musical teeth playing with Foghorn). When Johnny, Dan, and I sat down for the first time to have a few tunes, we experienced that incredibly rare musical chemistry which produces a kind of instant ease, liveliness, seamless unison and innovative harmonies that usually take years to develop. Playing with Johnny is like gliding on thermals.


Johnny’s been sharing from his vast trove of amazing Irish music, and we’ve been swapping him French-Canadian tunes in return. He has this great Quebecois single-row which he recently got back from its maker in Montmagny (Quebec’s button accordion capital city!) totally refurbished and with a new set of reeds. It’s killer! 
This tour is still in the building phase, but here’s what we have so far:

Wednesday, Nov 5: Eugene, OR
Thursday, Nov 6: Ashland, OR
Friday, Nov 7: Berkeley. CA
Saturday, Nov. 8: Santa Cruz, CA
Sunday, Nov 9, San Luis Obispo. CA
Monday, Nov 10: Chico, CA