Bach Festival 2022: From The Court of Louis XIV to Shippagan

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Cost: $15.00
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There is no doubt that the majority of traditional Acadian songs come from France, their origins can even be traced back to certain regions. Songs, just like people, are nomadic: they have no borders! The lyrics, like the melodies, often change as they travel. Songs also varied, not only from one Acadian region to another, but also from one performer to another, with each artist lending their own version.

Here, we juxtapose Acadian folk songs from Shippagan with 17th century ‘airs de cour’ from France and the court of Louis the XIV. The folksongs from Shippagan were collected by Dr. Joseph Dominique Gauthier between 1950 and 1957 who, after receiving a visit from two folklorists from Laval University, embarked on his own quest to find songs. Doctor Gauthier, a physician in Shippagan, said that getting songs and stories from his informants was the best way to do geriatrics!

The songs collected by Dr. Gauthier have melismas that are reminiscent of the ornamentation found in French ‘air de cour’ and this reveals the presence of certain archaisms in this isolated northeastern region of New Brunswick.

This concert is generously supported by Anthony Morgan.

PROGRAMME

The amorous nightingale / Le Rossignol en amour

Traditionnel – Chanson de Shippagan
Rossignol sauvage

Jean-Baptiste Drouart de Bousset (1662-1725), Michel Blavet (1700-1768)
Pourquoi doux rossignol

Jacques-Martin Hotteterre (1673-1763)
Je suis aimé de celle que j’adore

Honoré d’Ambruis (16..-17..?)
Pour charmer les ennuits

The fickle lovers / Les amants volages

Robert de Visée (1650-1725)
Prélude, Sarabande et Gigue en sol mineur

Traditionnel – Chanson de Shippagan
Le Berger

Michel Lambert (1610-1696)
Ma bergère

Traditionnel – Chanson de Shippagan
Chanson des amants

Michel Lambert
Jugez de ma douleur

Sweet Rest / Le repos

Robert de Visée
Chaconne en sol majeur

Michel Lambert
Goûtons un doux repos

Menagerie / La ménagerie

Traditionnel – Chanson de Shippagan
Le Coq et la Poule

Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)
Le coucou

Traditionnel – Chanson de Shippagan
Le Matou

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