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Geneviève Letarte at Ultimatum Festival 1985-05-01
The following is a transcription of Genevieve Letarte’s performance at Ultimatum, Wednesday, May 1st, 1985 at the Foufounes Électriques bar and performance space in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Letarte is an interdisciplinary artist from Montréal, writing under various modes and capacities: she is the author of four novels, among them, Souvent la nuit tu te reveilles (2002) and Les Vertiges Molino (1996), a poet, singer and songwriter. Her most recent publication is a poetry collection entitled Mes Ailleurs (2020). Her performances often combine text, song and music, as does the following multimodal performance from Ultimatum ’85, which mixes sound, song and poetry. The Ultimatum LP features "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse" from this set, with electronic percussion by Bernard Poirier, music by Trafic D’Influences, synthesizer and trombone by Claude Saint-Jean, and word and voice by Genevieve Letarte.
Annotations
00:00 - 00:13
Audio Description
Static, crackling, drumbeat.
Recording
Music
00:00 - 00:00
Alan Lord Commentary
Montréal artist Geneviève Letarte is the author of several novels, of which “Soleil Rauque” (“Hoarse Sun”) was the most acclaimed. She also published a collection of poetry, and has recorded two albums of songs.
Biographical Context
00:13 - 01:36
Audio Description
Drumbeat continues, distorted electric guitar, electronic sounds, trombone.
Music
01:17 - 01:17
Alan Lord Commentary
During her performance she sings through window drapes hanging on a rod over her head, which she pushes apart, to be seen.
Event Description
01:36 - 02:53
Audio Description
Performs "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse", recites poetry and vocalizes atop distorted electric guitar, electronic sounds, and trombone.
Genevieve Letarte
Music
02:45 - 02:45
Alan Lord Commentary
The musicians accompanying her are: Bernard Poirier: Guitar, bass, percussion, and Claude Saint-Jean: Synthesizer, trombone.
Event Description
02:53 - 03:11
Audio Description
Electronic percussion, synth, electric guitar, and keyboard.
Music
03:11 - 07:54
Audio Description
Continues "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse", speaks rhythmically and sings atop electronic percussion, synth, electric guitar, and keyboard.
Genevieve Letarte
Music
03:47 - 03:47
Alan Lord Commentary
The song “Petit Nuage et Betelgeuse” is on the Ultimatum documentary vinyl LP.
External Resource
07:54 - 08:11
Audio Description
Static, high- and low-pitched ringing.
Music
08:11 - 08:57
Audio Description
Continues "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse", speaks atop static, and high- and low-pitched ringing.
Genevieve Letarte
Music
08:57 - 09:17
Audio Description
Static, electronic sounds, ringing, synth melody.
Music
09:17 - 10:37
Audio Description
Continues "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse" atop high-pitched ringing and synth melody.
Genevieve Letarte
Music
10:37 - 11:01
Audio Description
Electronic sounds, synth.
Music
11:01 - 14:27
Audio Description
Continues "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse", musical underscore shifts, electric guitar, electronic ringing sounds, percussion, synth, bass, trombone.
Genevieve Letarte
Music
14:27 - 14:46
Audio Description
Guitar, bass, trombone.
Music
14:46 - 17:48
Audio Description
Continues "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse", speaks and sings, musical underscore shifts, guitar, bass, trombone, keyboard, synth.
Genevieve Letarte
Music
17:48 - 17:51
Audio Description
Cuts out, silence.
Recording
17:51 - 18:03
Audio Description
Synth, bass, trombone, cow bell.
Music
18:03 - 21:40
Audio Description
Continues "Petite Nuage et Betelgeueuse", speaks and sings atop synth, bass, trombone, and cow bell.
Genevieve Letarte
Music
21:40 - 21:48
Audio Description
Applause and cheers.
Audience
21:48 - 21:49
Audio Description
Merci.
Unknown Speaker
21:49 - 21:53
Audio Description
Applause.
Audience
21:53 - 22:02
Audio Description
Cuts out, low static and buzz.
Recording
22:02 - 22:02
Audio Description
[End of recording].
END