On Friday, November 25, 8 pm AST, Sirens will premiere its latest music video!

Filmed at the historic Glenaladale House in Mount Stewart, PE in September 2022, our performance of “Turlutte acadienne montréalaise” is imagined through the artistic vision of award-winning Island filmmaker, Millefiore Clarke.

By Canadian composer Marie-Claire Saindon “Turlutte acadienne montréalaise” captures the traditional Acadian and Québécois musical practice of the “turlutte” or mouth reel. Voices mimic fiddle reel melodies, while adding foot percussion or “podorythmie” in this lively piece. Mouth music has been a staple at kitchen parties across Atlantic Canada’s Acadian communities for generations.

You’ll find “Turlutte acadienne montréalaise” on Sirens’ debut album, Boundless, released in 2020.

We hope you enjoy this Sirens kitchen party – catch the video premiere at the link below!

This recording and video were made possible thanks to the support of FACTOR and the government of Canada.

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Atlantic String Machine and Sirens will present a “Winter’s Night” concert on Saturday, December 10 at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Charlottetown. There will be two concerts, a matinee at 2:30pm and an evening show at 7:30pm.

The event will see two of the Island’s most revered classical ensembles collaborate on several pieces. “Tundra,” by the Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, captures the shimmering stillness of the season through floating melodic lines atop a gently pulsating minimalist backdrop. Jocelyn Hagen’s “How to Survive Winter” illustrates the many moods of frost times with a musically diverse interplay between the strings and voices. It sets a rich text by poet Julia Klatt Singer that urges the listener to “wrap your body in darkness” and “carry the weight of night.”

The program will also feature individual performances by both ensembles. Audience members will be uplifted by Finnish composer Mia Makaroff’s “Spes,” which combines two texts, one in Latin and one in Sami, to spin a beautiful sonic exploration of hope. And Siola Sariola’s “Pakkanen” will see the choir create textures using words, whispers, and body percussion that tell a story of being isolated and lost while journeying through cold and snow.

Following the theme of northern lands, Atlantic String Machine will offer an arrangement of the Swedish fiddle tune “Gladlåten.” Translated into English, the tune’s title means ‘Happy Song’ and the lilting quality of the dance will leave listeners in great spirits. Also on the program will be Canadian composer Andrew Balfour’s “Pytor’s Dream,” a stunning symphonic work commissioned for and premiered by Toronto’s Tafelmusik in 2019. And, of course, audience members will be treated to a host of other surprises from a variety of genres in classic String Machine fashion. 

Tickets ($30/$15 students) can be purchased online or at the door, space permitting.