Reel à Bouche

Conductor Notes:

This fast moving, repetitive dance tune is a French-Canadian lilting or mouth music piece. This type of “mouth music” attempts to imitate instruments, such as the fiddle or accordion which would normally play the reel. The syllables of the tune are freely improvised by the singer(s), and the solo/choral response form is used so the group doesn’t get totally worn out during the dance. The piano accompaniment you hear on our recording is originally written for hammer dulcimer.