Image: Montreal in 1762, watercolour painting by Thomas Davies
Janelle Lucyk, soprano
David Jacques, guitar
Antoine Malette-Chénier, harp
Ziya Tabassian, percussions
Les Voix Humaines Viol Consort
Mélisande Corriveau, Jessy Dubé, Félix Deak, Susie Napper
Come All Oh Comrades
En montant la rivière *
Fantaisie pour les violes
Concert des différens oyseaux*
Mrs. Melville’s Dysart
Strike the viol*
Oh Lass of London pour percussion
Red River Gigue *
Gigue anglaise
Que feray-je, que diray-je ?
Concert pour quatre parties de violes
Prélude - Allemande - Courante - Sarabande - Menuet -
Gigue française - Passacaille
Chaconne
Chaconne for the Chinese Men and Women
Songster Chaconne - One Charming Night
Air de musette
Cumha mac Pharlain
O’Carolan’s Favourite Gig
She Loves and She Confesses*
* Arranged by Susie Napper
Our programme reflects the amazing cultural diversity of a country originally peopled by the First Nations, invaded by Europeans in search of commercial opportunities and joined over the centuries by immigrants often fleeing poverty, starvation or conflict. Each group brings a musical narrative that reflects both their past in distant lands and their lives in the New World, filled with hopes and dangers.
In 1604 when French explorers landed on the shores of Eastern Canada and a commerce in furs seemed profitable, a sentinel cultural life was born. Collaboration with the First Nations was crucial. Their knowledge of the lay of the land, its brutal weather, furry inhabitants, food sources and medicinal plants was essential for survival. Liaisons of all manner flourished, producing a tapestry of musical delicacies!
The French nuns in the Quebec convents were dedicated to a Eurocentric model of education for both immigrant and Indigenous children. In 1640, Mother Marie de l’Incarnation wrote that one of her Indigenous wards, Agnès Chablikuchich had made great progress... in playing the viol. We know that viols were abundant in Quebec during the 17th and 18th centuries. Existing letters from the period show orders for viols to be sent from France and a celebrated cache of twelve viols was later found in the vaults of the Hôpital général in Québec City during the 19th century.
Our programme features both French folk tunes that the trappers brought across the Atlantic and Irish and Scottish fiddle music that travelled across Canada. Iconic tunes from the classic and folk repertoire, appreciated throughout Europe, were exported to Canada alongside Purcell’s music, adored by Anglo-Canadians. Lesser-known music by composers featured in the private libraries of the French-Canadian bourgeoisie makes for an eclectic and fascinating listen.
We hope that you’ll enjoy hearing our tapisserie, a creative and delicious musical journey across Canada!
© Susie Napper
Janelle Lucyk
Janelle Lucyk is a leader among a new generation of artists specializing in old music and historically informed performance, taking ideas from conception to the stage.
Janelle Lucyk graduated in 2014 with distinction from the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles in Belgium where she debuted Lux Aeterna, written for her and the Brussels Chamber Choir by Jan Moeyaert, performed as a soloist and recorded with Musica Fura (Praetorius Christmas Mass) and the Laudantes Consort (Palestrina), and formed Voces Desuper, an ensemble performing regularly in the magnificent Cathédrale de Saints-Michel-et-Gudule, and especially at the Te Deum ceremony for the King and Queen of Belgium. Following, she completed her Master’s in Management at Durham University in the UK and won the role of Susanna in Durham Opera Ensemble’s The Marriage of Figaro for which she was awarded the Best Soloist by Music Durham, and Best Female Soloist by her peers at the DOE.
Growing up as a violinist, Janelle was the youngest member of Regina Symphony Orchestra and with them performed Vivaldi's Four Seasons as soloist in 2009. Janelle has been captivated by Nova Scotia’s flourishing music scene since arriving in the stunning maritime province. She has had the good fortune of working as a soloist with the King's College Chapel Choir under five-time Grammy winner Paul Halley on many unforgettable concerts including Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 and Selva Morale e Spirituale and multiple Bach Passions. She performs across Canada as a soloist with Per Sonatori, Ménestrel, Theatre of Early Music, Aureas Voces and Ensemble Caprice, and premiered jazz songs written for her by Peter-Anthony Togni.
Following mentor and arts champion Barbara Butler, Janelle assumed the role of Artistic and Administrative Director of Musique Royale (est. 1985), a music presenter based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, which enriches historic spaces across the spectacular maritime province through the sharing of world class early music, and much more.
Antoine Malette-Chénier
An innovative and creative harpist, Antoine Malette-Chénier plays a repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary creations. He has won many awards, including the Audience Awards and the Festival Montréal Baroque Award from the Concours international de musique baroque Mathieu-Duguay 2017, the Jury’s Award at the Concours du Prix d’Europe 2017, a first prize at the 2013 OSM Standard Life Competition, and the 2014 Michael Measures Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts. Principal harp of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Antoine has performed as a soloist, chamber, basso continuo and orchestral player in Canada, France, and the United States with ensembles such as the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, the Orchestre Métropolitain and the Studio de Musique ancienne de Montréal. Antoine holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, McGill University, the Université de Montréal and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon.
Consort Les Voix humaines
In 2021, Les Voix humaines (Susie Napper, Mélisande Corriveau and Felix Deak) was joined by Jessy Dubé to take a refreshing look at the huge repertoire for multiple viols. Our unique, controversial ideas offer a new profile to consort playing in which rhythmic freedom and ornamentation play an integral role. As well as the grand English consort repertoire, Bach’s Art of Fugue and the Purcell Fantasias, the Consort performs lesser-known discoveries by Cima, Trabaci, Lupo, Moulinier and Charpentier to which we bring years of experience and experimentation as viol, recorder, fiddle and bass violin players!
The consort has toured in Canada, the USA, Mexico, France, Poland, Scandinavia and the Baltic States and recorded Bach’s Art of Fugue, Purcell’s Fantasias, Dowland’s Lachrimae as well as their own, unusual arrangement of Vivaldi’s Quattro Stagioni for equal viols: 4 Seasons, 4 Viols.
To share this music even more widely, tonight’s concert will be recorded by ICI MUSIQUE, Radio-Canada's musical destination. Whether on the radio (100,7 FM in Montreal) or on ICI MUSIQUE Classique (digital radio available via the Radio-Canada OHdio app), our unique programming is yours to discover. Enjoy the concert!
This concert will be presented at a later date as part of the program Toute une musique, hosted by Marie-Christine Trottier and broadcast Monday through Thursday from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Recording production: Guylaine Picard
Sound engineering: Steeve St-Pierre