A WORD FROM ANGÈLE DUBEAU
How to celebrate La Pietà’s 25th anniversary? The answer came quite naturally: music. An album entirely conceived of, played, and composed by women. The title – the singular ELLE (She) – because each woman is unique.
So I dove into the works of women composers, not restricting myself in any way and keeping an open mind, with only instinct and enjoyment as my guides. And enjoy myself I did as I put together this album, the 46th of my career.
First was the joy of collecting this magnificent repertoire and thinking about the arrangements. And also the privilege of speaking and sharing with many of the composers that appear on the recording.
There were some beautiful moments with Elena, whom I knew through performing her works but had never actually spoken with. I now have the feeling we’ve known each other for years.
Ana, Julie, and Katia all live in the same city as me; Rebecca, whose music I discovered two years ago and who impresses me even more now; new-found treasures Caroline and Isobel figure in the same generation; and Lera, Dalal, Jocelyn, and Rachel, whose music truly speaks to me.
My musical approach for this album tended toward modern composers, but I did want to take a short trip back in time to Hildegard von Bingen, an important 12th-century visionary whose writings and music have come down to us. I think you’ll agree that her luminous music has aged magnificently. A composer, physician, abbess, poet, and prophet, she was canonized in 2012, nine centuries after her death, becoming one of only four women Doctors of the Church and one of the very few canonized musicians.
This project also fulfills a dream I have cherished for over 10 years – that of creating a bridge between my violin and Inuit throat singing. Lydia and Nina, thank you for allowing me to add my violin to your magnificent culture. This Inuit tradition has been handed down from mother to daughter since time immemorial. By adding archival audio excerpts to Mémoire, the music is worth a thousand words.
Congratulations to the 12 composers. Congratulations to the wonderful women of La Pietà. And congratulations to wonderful staff of Analekta. It’s been 25 years already! Time flies when you love what you do and you do it with such wonderful people.
Enjoy!
ANGÈLE DUBEAU
O.C., C.Q., Q.M.