Music & Dance
DE TEMPS ANTAN
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Québécois
Literally de temps antan translates in English to “of time past,” but in actuality, it is a play on the French phrase de temps en temps (“from time to time”) that describes the origins of the group. Each of the three members of De Temps Antan—André Brunet, Pierre-Luc DuPuis and Éric Beaudry—were at one time members of a Québécois musical institution, La Bottine Souriante (the smiling boot) and performed together from time to time apart from La Bottine. While André and Pierre-Luc left La Bottine, Éric remains part of the band.
André Brunet was born in Lacolle, in Quebec’s Montérégie region. His first love was for the violin and he began taking lessons at age nine. Along with brother Réjean, he created Les Frères Brunet (The Brunet Brothers) and went on to record several albums and perform concerts around the world. In 1997, André joined La Bottine Souriante, with whom he played for 10 years. At the Grand Masters Fiddling Competition in August 2008, André took home top honors as Grand Master of Canada. It was the first time a Quebecer had won the prestigious award since the competition’s inception in 1990.
Pierre-Luc DuPuis was born in Louiseville, in Quebec’s Mauricie region, and hails from a lineage where traditional music was always at the forefront of daily life. Although he began singing with his family at a very young age, Pierre-Luc took up the accordion at the rather late age of 18. A year later, he founded Les Langues Fourchures (Forked Tongues), with whom he recorded his first album in 2001. He joined La Bottine Souriante in 2003.
Éric Beaudry was first exposed to traditional Quebec music in Saint-Côme, a village in Quebec’s Lanaudière region. Raised by a family entrenched in music (his grandfather was a fiddle player), he began singing and playing guitar at the age of ten. In 1992, he founded La Galvaude, followed-up later by Ni Sarpe Ni Branche (Neither Sickle Nor Branch) and Norouet (Northwest Wind). Éric has won several awards including a 2002 Prix Mnémo for his role in producing the album Musique gaspésienne (Gaspéan Music), featuring violinist Édouard Richard. Éric began teaching traditional music at Joliette’s CEGEP régional de Lanaudière in 2002, and joined La Bottine Souriante in 2003.
Links
http://www.detempsantan.qc.ca/
http://www.straight.com/article-204236/de-temps-antan-finds-favour-away-home
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