Oscar Thiffault Explained

Oscar Thiffault (1912–1998) was a folk musician from Quebec, Canada.

Early life

Thiffault was originally from Estrie, and lived for most of his life in Saint-Étienne-des-Grès.

Career

Working on construction sites, Thiffault composed new versions of Quebecois folk songs,^[1] and also wrote many songs setting new lyrics to traditional melodies.^[2] He first found success in 1954 with "Le Rapide-Blanc", a humorous song written in 1935 while working on the Rapide-Blanc Generating Station.^{[3] [4]} The song was a country and western adaptation of the traditional song "Le moine tremblant et la dame".^{[5] [6]}

Thiffault wrote songs honouring local sports figures, including hockey players Maurice Richard, ("Le Rocket Richard"),^[7] and Guy Lafleur ("La Tourne à Ti-Guy Lafleur").^[8] Other songs that he wrote were "Je parle à la française"^[9] and "En écoutant Y mouillera pu pantoute".^[10]

In 1988, a documentary film about Thiffault's life, created by Serge Giguère, was released.^{[11] [12]} His songs continue to be played and recorded in Quebec; the band Carotté included "“Tape la bizoune" on their debut album.^[13]

External links

• • Oscar Thiffault at WorldCat

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oscar Thiffault: Ah! Ouigne in hin in! . cinemaquebecois.telequebec.tv . 16 July 2014. fr.
2. http://www.udenap.org/groupe_de_pages_04/thiffault_oscar.htm "Oscar Thiffault (1912-1998)"
3. Web site: Parcours . qim.com . 16 July 2014. fr.
4. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/premiere/emissions/on-dira-ce-qu-on-voudra/segments/chronique/17617/chansons-inapropriees-oscar-thiffault-omnikrom-garou "D'Oscar Thiffault à Omnikrom : ces chansons inappropriées que l’on a oubliées"
5. Book: Ursula Mathis-Moser. Acadians and Cajuns: The Politics and Culture of French Minorities in North America. 2009. Innsbruck University Press. 978-3-902571-93-9.
6. Book: Jacques Bertin. Félix Leclerc: le roi heureux. 1987. Editions Arléa. 22. 9782869590120 .
7. Book: Charles Foran. Extraordinary Canadians: Maurice Richard. 8 March 2011. Penguin Canada. 978-0-14-318042-5. 71.
8. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sports-emc "Music about Sports"
9. Book: Irène Belleau. Gilles Dorion. Les Oeuvres de Création et le Français Au Québec. 1984. Conseil de la langue française. 978-2-551-06415-1. 33.
10. Book: Jean-Nicolas De Surmont. De l'écho canadien à la lanterne québécoise: comment la chanson est devenue la figure de proue de l'identité québécoise, 1850-2000 : essai. 2010. Éditions GID. 978-2-89634-071-2. 30.
11. Book: Repère. 1-2. 2008. Services documentaires Multimedia. 2143.
12. http://povmagazine.com/articles/view/quebec-dreams-the-films-of-serge-giguere-sylvie-van-brabant "Quebec Dreams: The films of Serge Giguère & Sylvie Van Brabant"
13. https://www.socanmagazine.ca/features/for-me-music-and-agriculture-go-hand-in-hand/ “For me, music and agriculture go hand in hand”