L’esprit du Nord, for string quartet, was inspired by and is infused with French-Canadian folk song. Each of the three movements uses a folk song as its basis. The first movement, Chanson de Lisette, is a playful theme and variations in which the folk song theme is gradually transformed into a contemporary musical language. The second movement, Cantique [Canticle], contains two religious folk tunes: a ‘Passion’ song and a tune entitled Les Pèlerins. An optional 1940s field recording ...

I Chanson de Lisette - II Cantique - III Fiddle Dance