Boreal Tordu: Biography
Boreal Tordu
Boréal Tordu began when fiddler Steve Muise and singer Robert Sylvain discovered a mutual interest in the music of their shared Acadian heritage. While signs of their parents' French culture can still be found in Maine, it was almost lost to their generation, after years of forced assimilation. More than a revival, their music represents a continuation of musical traditions passed down from the Acadians, the Québécois, and the unique French-speaking people of the the Republic of Madawaska and milltowns all over New England.
Steve Muise - fiddle, vocals, accordian, feet
Steve Muise est Canadien dans l’âme. Se parents sont de première et de deuxième généneration acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Steve aime la langue française et a déja fait une immersion à l’université de Ste. Anne en Nouvelle-Écosse et continue a étudier avec son amie Québecoise. Il souhaite de communiquer avec les musiciens français qui joue de la musique traditionelle et aussi avec sa famille Canadienne.Il est très heureux de jouer l’accordéon de son grand-père, et son violin à été fabrique par un luthier du Maine. Steve dirige l’orchestre et le groupe, Franklin County Fiddlers de Farmington, ME
Steve Muise is a Canadian at heart; his parents are first and second generation Acadians from Nova Scotia. Wishing to communicate with traditional French musicians and his relatives, he has been studying French with his friend from Québec, and has spent the summer of 2002 in French immersion at the Université de Ste. Anne in Church Point, Nova Scotia. He is happy to be playing his late grandfather’s accordion, and a violin handmade here in Maine. Steve teaches orchestra and The Franklin County Fiddlers in Farmington,Maine.
Robert Sylvain - vocals, dobro
Ayant trouvé ses racines acadiennes et son riche géritage musical, Sylvain a remanié plusiers de ses anciennes chansons avec un style cajun. Il a aussi composé de nouvelles chansons françaises. Quand il n’est pas avec sa famille ou entrain d’écrire ou de jouer du dobro, il est un technician du son pour les films et lex vidéos. Il est aussi le directeur artistique de Gigafone Records qui offre des documentaires musicals acoustiques qui sont enregistre une ambience different.
Having found his Acadian roots and the rich musical heritage that came with it, Sylvain has reworked many of his earlier songs, as well as writing new originals in French. When not enjoying his family, writing or playing Dobro, Sylvain does sound acquisition for film & video. He is also artistic director of Gigafone Records, which features documentary-style recordings of acoustic music in unusual settings.
Pip Walter - guitar, vocals
A well-known multi-instrumentalist from the Portland music scene, Pip has an uncanny ability not only to find that elusive and bone-tickling third vocal harmony, but to sing it en français during rehearsal before ever having heard the lyrics. For this the band bestowed on him the title of honorary Franco-Maineiac.
Andy Buckland - bass, vocals
The newest addition to the family, Andy is another francophile- Acadian by marriage, a superb musician, and a great guy too. Andy lives in Farmington, Maine.