Turlutte acadienne montrealaise (SAB)

Cultural Context

Turlutte acadienne montréalaise is an original melody hailing from the traditional Acadian and Québecois musical practice of the “turlutte,” or mouth-reel. The composer recorgnises her Acadian roots, but also the cultural influences of her current hometown—Montréal—in the title. The Acadian and Québecois mouth-reel is the art of imitating an instrumental reel or jig with one’s voice, using a specific set of syllables—not unlike jazz scat singers. It would be performed at kitchen parties (still common today), and dance parties, when the instrumentalists wanted to take a break. Though mouth-reels can be found in many other cultures around the globe, a unique sound featured in the Acadian and Québecois mouth-reel is the “ts” sound, much like a mini drum kit hi-hat hit.