Angèle Arsenault
Encyclopedia
Angèle Arsenault, is an acclaimed Canadian-Acadian
singer, songwriter
and media host.
, Prince Edward Island
, Canada
in 1943. She was the eighth child out of fourteen children. She grew up surrounded by music because this medium was very popular among her family. The family would gather for kitchen parties, an important aspect of Acadian culture, and each would play a different musical instrument, and would sing songs passed down from older generations.
By the age of 14, she was playing the piano
and the guitar
and won a televised singing contest in Charlottetown
.
In 1965, she received her BA
from the Université de Moncton
followed by her MA from Université Laval
in 1968. She then taught for one year, before moving to Montreal
, Quebec
, where her singing/songwriting career really kicked off.
. However, it was not until 1973 that she began to write and sing her own songs (in English and in French). Among these were Évangéline, Acadian Queen and Le monde de par chez nous.
For TVOntario
, she hosted several shows, among others was the educational program Avec Angèle. In 1974, the program won a Gold Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival
. During the '70s, she released Première and an English album entitled Angèle Arsenault. However, it was with the release of her 1977 album Libre which garnered her much success and fame.
Libre, which went triple platinum, contained songs that Arsenault is still remembered for today, such as Moi j'mange and De temps en temps moi j'ai les bleus. In 1979, she received the prestigious Felix Award
for best-seller (Libre) in Quebec, and performed at a sold out concert at the Place des Arts
.
In 1979, she recorded her fourth album Y'a une étoile pour vous and the following year she received much acclaim at the Festival de Spa in Belgium
. She then returned to Canada to record her fifth album. She has also kept up her radio and television career, as much in Quebec as in the Maritimes
. She has even written a play with Sylvie Toupin entitled Pour le meilleur et pour le pire, which deals with violence against women.
Following the 1970s, the singer had really built up a fan base and solidified her popularity, as much as a singer as an Acadian pioneer in modern music. In 1975, she even published a collection of poems entitled Première, released at the same time as her first album.
She appeared in several films for the National Film Board of Canada
including Le temps de l'avant (1975). She also founded the Société de production et de programmation de spectacles with the impresario Lise Aubut and the singers Edith Butler
and Jacqueline Lemay.
you can view her performing in youtube.
In 1996, she returned to Prince Edward Island to be closer to her family.
In 1997, she received the Ordre de la Pléiade de l'Association des parlementaires de langue française, recognizing her work in the promotion of the French language and culture.
She is also an honorary member of the Association canadienne des éducateurs de langue française, for which she sings and gives workshops.
She continues to write new songs and appears at many festivals worldwide.
In 1999, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Prince Edward Island
. She also released that year an album of twelve songs entitled Amour, meant specifically for children (Arsenault herself has no children of her own).
In 2000, she received the title of Woman of the Year by Zonta International
.
Her last known television work was with PassepArts, a television show for which she was its correspondent in Charlottetown and her last known place of residence was Summerside, Prince Edward Island
.
On February 23, 2003, Arsenault received the Order of Canada
.
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and media host.
Early life
Arsenault was born to Acadian parents in Abrams VillageAbrams Village, Prince Edward Island
Abram-Village is a Canadian rural community in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is located approximately 25 minutes west of the nearest city, Summerside....
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1943. She was the eighth child out of fourteen children. She grew up surrounded by music because this medium was very popular among her family. The family would gather for kitchen parties, an important aspect of Acadian culture, and each would play a different musical instrument, and would sing songs passed down from older generations.
By the age of 14, she was playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and won a televised singing contest in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
.
In 1965, she received her BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the Université de Moncton
Université de Moncton
The Université de Moncton is a French language university located in Moncton, New Brunswick serving the Acadian community of Atlantic Canada...
followed by her MA from Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in 1968. She then taught for one year, before moving to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
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....
, where her singing/songwriting career really kicked off.
Career
Arsenault had started to perform in Moncton in 1963. She would play the guitar and piano and sing and collect traditional Acadian songs. After 1966 she lived in various places in Quebec, and appeared on television and in radio. She then toured parts of CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. However, it was not until 1973 that she began to write and sing her own songs (in English and in French). Among these were Évangéline, Acadian Queen and Le monde de par chez nous.
For TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
, she hosted several shows, among others was the educational program Avec Angèle. In 1974, the program won a Gold Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
. During the '70s, she released Première and an English album entitled Angèle Arsenault. However, it was with the release of her 1977 album Libre which garnered her much success and fame.
Libre, which went triple platinum, contained songs that Arsenault is still remembered for today, such as Moi j'mange and De temps en temps moi j'ai les bleus. In 1979, she received the prestigious Felix Award
Félix Award
The Félix Award is a music award, given on an annual basis to artists in the Canadian province of Quebec.The first Félix awards were presented on September 23, 1979, by the Association du disque, de l'industrie du spectacle québécois...
for best-seller (Libre) in Quebec, and performed at a sold out concert at the Place des Arts
Place des Arts
right|frame|View of the Place des Arts esplanade. The Musée d'art contemporain is on the left; behind it is the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, with the Théâtre Maisonneuve on the rightPlace des Arts is a major performing arts centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
.
In 1979, she recorded her fourth album Y'a une étoile pour vous and the following year she received much acclaim at the Festival de Spa in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. She then returned to Canada to record her fifth album. She has also kept up her radio and television career, as much in Quebec as in the Maritimes
Maritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
. She has even written a play with Sylvie Toupin entitled Pour le meilleur et pour le pire, which deals with violence against women.
Following the 1970s, the singer had really built up a fan base and solidified her popularity, as much as a singer as an Acadian pioneer in modern music. In 1975, she even published a collection of poems entitled Première, released at the same time as her first album.
She appeared in several films for the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
including Le temps de l'avant (1975). She also founded the Société de production et de programmation de spectacles with the impresario Lise Aubut and the singers Edith Butler
Édith Butler
Édith Butler O.C. is an Acadian singer-songwriter and folklorist. Her career began in the early 1960s with performances in Moncton, followed by national appearances on CBC Television's Singalong Jubilee.2003's Madame Butlerfly is her most recent studio recording.-Honours:*Butler was appointed an...
and Jacqueline Lemay.
you can view her performing in youtube.
Angèle Arsenault today
In 1994, she returned to music with the release of the album Transparente, which continued to show the world the artist's musical talents. This album featured the well-known songs Grand-Pré and Papa Arthur. She also continued to do tours in Quebec, as well as throughout Canada.In 1996, she returned to Prince Edward Island to be closer to her family.
In 1997, she received the Ordre de la Pléiade de l'Association des parlementaires de langue française, recognizing her work in the promotion of the French language and culture.
She is also an honorary member of the Association canadienne des éducateurs de langue française, for which she sings and gives workshops.
She continues to write new songs and appears at many festivals worldwide.
In 1999, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Prince Edward Island
University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island is a public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales...
. She also released that year an album of twelve songs entitled Amour, meant specifically for children (Arsenault herself has no children of her own).
In 2000, she received the title of Woman of the Year by Zonta International
Zonta International
Zonta International is an international service organization founded in Buffalo, New York in 1919 with the mission of advancing the status of women.Currently, Zonta International is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois...
.
Her last known television work was with PassepArts, a television show for which she was its correspondent in Charlottetown and her last known place of residence was Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
.
On February 23, 2003, Arsenault received the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Discography
- Première (1975)
- Angèle Arsenault (1976)
- Libre (1977)
- Y'a une étoile pour vous (1979)
- Chanter dans le soleil (1980)
- Paniquez pas pour rien (1982)
- Bonjour Madame Bolduc (1993)
- Transparente (1994)
- Noël c'est l'amour (1995)
- J'ai vécu bien des années (1995)
- Amour (1999)
- Des étoiles pour vous (2010)