Québécois music with Genticorum – Virtual Concert

June 25, 2021

Délégation du Québec à Boston / Québec Government Office in Boston is sponsoring a virtual concert by Genticorum to celebrate La Saint-Jean the weekend of June 25-27. Pre-recorded in Montreal, Quebec, this virtual concert can be viewed Friday, June 25, 7-8 p.m. EST, but with ticket purchase, you can watch again, any time, during an included 96-hour rebroadcast! Blackstone River Theatre is proud to be a presenter of this virtual concert along with the Museum of Work & Culture, Woonsocket, RI and Dana Center, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH. To purchase tickets visit: https://boxoffice.mandolin.com/products/genticorum-virtual-concert-ticket-6-25-21

Access to an 8 p.m. afterparty gathering with the members of Genticorum on Zoom is included. The Zoom link will be sent out to all ticket holders on June 25 by 2 p.m.

Over the past 20 years the traditional Quebec group Genticorum has become a fixture on the international world, folk and Celtic music circuit. The band’s six albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the U.S, and Europe and their newest album was just nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards for “Best Ensemble” and “Best Traditional Record.” Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and original traditional power trio weaves precise and intricate fiddle, flute, and accordion work along with gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion, and guitar accompaniment into a high-energy musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humor, and stage presence always makes for an amazing show. Genticorum was scheduled to be at this year’s Summer Solstice Festival which had to be canceled due to the COVID pandemic so we are especially happy to present this virtual concert and announce that Genticorum WILL be part of the 2022 Summer Solstice Festival! Pascal Gemme (fiddle, feet, voice) is widely recognized as a cultural ambassador for Québécois music. Yann Falquet is one of the most active and creative acoustic guitar players in the Québécois and New England music scenes. Since completing a bachelor’s degree in jazz, he has developed his own personal guitar style for Québec folk music. Nicholas Williams has developed a reputation as a versatile and sought-after musician in the traditional music scenes of Québec and New England. His rhythmic yet nuanced style of flute playing draws from Irish and Scottish traditions, as well as from his studies of classical North Indian music.

One of the most important holidays in Quebec, as well as in French Canada more broadly, is Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. Celebrated annually on June 24th, it’s commonly referred to as La Saint-Jean. The general origin of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day comes from pre-Christian rituals around the time of the summer solstice on June 21. As Catholicism spread into France, the summer solstice celebrations evolved during the 5th century into the feast day of John the Baptist. Traditionally, bonfires would take place on the evening of June 24 in order to honor the saint. Designed to promote Québécois language and culture, the first “official” Saint-Jean-Baptiste festival in Montreal occurred on June 24, 1834.

Québécois music with Genticorum – Virtual Concert

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