As for Quebec saints, I can give the list to the Choir.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_catholic_saints_of_canada The Canadian Martyrs also known as the North American Martyrs were eight Jesuit missionaries from Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, who were martyred in the mid-17th century in Canada and upstate New York. They comprised the six priests and two companions missioning to the Huron during colonial days of New…

Karl-Henry said that one of the unique musical expressions of Haitians in Montreal was the mixture of konpa with gospel. So, I want to use the Sanctus text to illustrate this wonderful combination. Since the Sanctus falls before the Agnus Dei and Benedictus, this movement needs to be slow and gentle. This will set up…

After the opening movement that illustrates the mixture of French and West African cultures, the next movement, the Gloria, needs to make a strong Haitian musical statement. This will show the audience what new music resulted from this mixture. Naturally, this movement needs to be set to an unabashed konpa groove. While Jamaica has reggae,…

My last name is McClure, so I have some pretty strong Celtic roots. While St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated today in several cities across Quebec, I had one of the most unusual St. Patty’s Days of my life. Louise and I drove to Montreal. I bought some spectacular French cheese at the farmers’ market. I…

I had a fascinating discussion today with author and economist Eddy Cave and musician Rene Desrosiers. Eddy was born in Haiti but has lived 44 years of his life in Quebec. He worked for the International Monetary Fund and several other international organizations. He is currently working on an initiative in Haiti to bridge the…