Le trésor de la langue
Encyclopedia
Le trésor de la langue is an album of music released by the guitarist René Lussier
on the Ambiances Magnétique label in 1989. Many consider it to be Lussier's greatest album.
The album contains several interviews with residents of Québec
of the importance of the french language
within the province. A number of famous historical recordings are also featured, including Charles de Gaulle
's famous "Vive le Québec libre!" speech of 1967 and a recitation of the FLQ Manifesto. These spoken-word recordings are interspersed with the music, as Lussier plays a single note on his guitar to correspond with every syllable of speech. He is quoted as saying, "It's remarkable what melodies we speak to each other every day! And no one's the least bothered by these phrases, but transpose them into music and they can become surprising, even disturbing!"
Although much of Le trésor de la langue is devoted to the continued importance of French in Québécois culture, its message is not one of unadulterated Québec nationalism
. The album includes a poem by Richard Desjardins
entitled "Qui s'en souvient?", which chronicles the destruction of several Native American
societies by English and French colonialists. The liner notes also refer to contemporary events in Canadian politics as a "poisoned chalice" for the survival of the language.
All tracks written by René Lussier. Arranged by Lussier with Jean Derome and Fred Frith. All tracks produced by Lussier; tracks 1-4 co-produced by Hélène Prévost.
Tracks 1-4 mixed by Gaétan Pilon, Lussier and Frith. Tracks 5-13 mixed by Pilon, Lussier and Jean Derome.
René Lussier
René Lussier is a musician based in the province of Québec, Canada. He is a composer, guitarist, bass guitarist, percussionist, bass clarinetist and singer. Lussier has collaborated with such figures as Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Jean Derome and Robert M. Lepage...
on the Ambiances Magnétique label in 1989. Many consider it to be Lussier's greatest album.
The album contains several interviews with residents of Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
of the importance of the french language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
within the province. A number of famous historical recordings are also featured, including Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
's famous "Vive le Québec libre!" speech of 1967 and a recitation of the FLQ Manifesto. These spoken-word recordings are interspersed with the music, as Lussier plays a single note on his guitar to correspond with every syllable of speech. He is quoted as saying, "It's remarkable what melodies we speak to each other every day! And no one's the least bothered by these phrases, but transpose them into music and they can become surprising, even disturbing!"
Although much of Le trésor de la langue is devoted to the continued importance of French in Québécois culture, its message is not one of unadulterated Québec nationalism
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
. The album includes a poem by Richard Desjardins
Richard Desjardins
Richard Desjardins is a Québécois folk singer and film director. He and his friends formed the country rock ensemble Abbitibbi in the 1970s. Desjardins played piano, guitar, and sang. When the group disbanded in 1982, Desjardins pursued a solo career. He also found work scoring films,...
entitled "Qui s'en souvient?", which chronicles the destruction of several Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
societies by English and French colonialists. The liner notes also refer to contemporary events in Canadian politics as a "poisoned chalice" for the survival of the language.
Track listing
- La Française du début/Le non-lieu/Vox pop 1/Le départ des aventuriers (4:26)
- Arts et traditions (direction 1)/L'heure du dîner (archives 1)/Les 2 soeurs de Trois-Rivières (direction 2)/Rue Principale/Montage 28 (archives 2) (7:55)
- La visite de Charles de Gaulle/De Gaulle revisité/L'Anglaise de Québec (direction 3)/Kiki/Manifeste du F.L.Q. (9:04)
- Vestibule/Çé ça qu'on va faire!/Le gars du Irving (direction 4)/Le tic-tac d'la veille/Le blues des résultats/Lend'main d'veille/Qui se souvient? (8:24)
- L'appel d'la pelle (direction 5)/Ya tout' mon estime/Le manifeste du F.L.Q. (instrumental) (5:24)
- Le message d'la reine/Échange de bar (2:59)
- Fanfare et tradition (vox pop 2)/L'indécise (2:45)
- C't'écoeurant/Vestibule léger (direction 6)/Ma mère/Ha bein çé l'fun (6:18)
- Ouin çé ça (vox pop 3)/Vous me m'nez à bout'/Le commercial (4:36)
- Mme Xavier Martin revisitée/Le p'tit Jésus de M. Chose (4:38)
- Le Diable (archives 3)/L'enfer (Le reel de l'estime)/Le réveil (3:25)
- L'amygdalite à Duchesne (téléphone 1)/Wow bec! (4:15)
- On peut parler (téléphone 2) (1:38)
Personnel
- René Lussier: guitars, six-string bass, casiotone, percussion, ambiances, voice
- Jean DeromeJean DeromeJean Derome is a French Canadian avant-garde saxophonist, flautist and composer. A prominent figure in the Montreal musique actuelle scene, Derome has been a member of a number of experimental jazz and rock groups, and has appeared on over 30 albums, including seven solo albums...
: saxophone, flute, keyboards, voice - Fred FrithFred FrithFred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
: electric bass, violin, piano - Claude Beaugrand: ambiances magnétiques, voice
- Claude Simard: upright bass
- Alain TrudelAlain TrudelAlain Trudel is a Canadian musician, composer and conductor. He began his career playing the trombone, but has more recently turned to conducting....
: trombone, euphonium - Céline Chaput: voice
- Jean-Denis Levasseur: clarinet
- Richard DesjardinsRichard DesjardinsRichard Desjardins is a Québécois folk singer and film director. He and his friends formed the country rock ensemble Abbitibbi in the 1970s. Desjardins played piano, guitar, and sang. When the group disbanded in 1982, Desjardins pursued a solo career. He also found work scoring films,...
: voice - Pierre St-Jak: piano
- Tom CoraTom CoraThomas Henry Corra , better known as Tom Cora, was a United States cellist and composer, best known for his improvisational performances in the field of experimental jazz and rock...
: cello
All tracks written by René Lussier. Arranged by Lussier with Jean Derome and Fred Frith. All tracks produced by Lussier; tracks 1-4 co-produced by Hélène Prévost.
Tracks 1-4 mixed by Gaétan Pilon, Lussier and Frith. Tracks 5-13 mixed by Pilon, Lussier and Jean Derome.