As It Goes (2014) by Mike Essoudry
Solo viola d'amore
Recorded February 2015
No edits

As It Goes by Mike Essoudry

Volo d'amore (2015) by Steven Gellman 
for solo viola d'amore
Recorded February 2015
No edits

Volo d'Amore by Steven Gellman

Breathe (2014) by Megan Jerome
Recorded live in concert Feb 2015
No edits

Breathe by Megan Jerome

Continuum (2014) by Pierre-Yves Martel
Recorded live in concert
Ottawa New Music Creators
Feb 19 2015

Continuum by Pierre-Yves Martel

Noncerto Beaupré (2014) by Matthias Maute
II. Vlaams
Viola d'amore and organ (Jean-Willy Kunz)
Recorded February 2015

Noncerto Beaupré - II. Vlaams by Matthias Maute

Noncerto Beaupré (2014) by Matthias Maute
III. Italiano
Viola d'amore and pipe organ (Jean-Willy Kunz)
Recorded February 2015

Noncerto Beaupré - III. Italiano by Matthias Maute

Excerpts of a concert performance of the multi-movement piece Avrix Mi Galanica for solo viola d'amore and prerecorded track by Leonard Lightstone.

Avrix Mi Galanica (excerpts) by Leonard Lightstone

Solo viola d'amore piece written by Marielle Groven for the 2016 edition of Winnipeg's Cluster Festival. Based on a text in Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice by JF Martel.

Jennifer Thiessen's Album

Only the revelation [And its claws] by Marielle Groven

Women receive toxic messages, both explicit and inferred, regarding their choices and circumstances relating to parenthood. While there is increased awareness of the unbalanced societal expectation that a woman must have children to reach her full potential, and increased acceptance of the completeness of individuals and families of all configurations, I have never heard a song on the subject. I have, however, heard that having a child is the greatest thing a women can do, a phrase which undermines the inherent worth of a "childless woman," along with her skills and abilities. I wrote this song to name aspects of this view still lodged in my subconscious belief system, to bring them into the light where they lose their sting. 

This arrangement takes shape with the musicianship of Jean-Christophe Lizotte and Ben Reimer. Elements of the arrangement, including the use of Motherless Child, the original spark for this song, happened in collaboration with Winnipeg's Touching for a show earlier this year. 
* * * 
Childless Woman 
-music and words by Jennifer Thiessen 

Childless woman, listen to what they said: 
You're not a child, but you're not a man. 
Who will carry the burden of your silver head? 
Childless woman never did the greatest thing a woman can. 

Childless woman, look at what you've done: 
You made some money and you had some fun. 
All your big ideas kept you warm and fed, 
But, childless woman, will your brainchild ever hold your hand? 

Childless woman, do you have regrets? 
You were so selfish, just to live some things you now forget. 
While all your sisters mothered new life, 
Childless woman never had to make the sacrifice. 

* * * 
Motherless Child 
-traditional 

Sometimes I feel like motherless child, 
A long way from home. 
Sometimes I wish that I could fly, like a bird up in the sky, 
Up to that heavenly land. 
* * *
credits
Jennifer Thiessen: music and words (except for Motherless Child) voice, viola 
Jean-Christophe Lizotte: cello 
Ben Reimer: drums 
Recorded and mixed by Omar Raafat at Mechanicland Studio (Montreal)

Child[less woman]

l'aurore
written and played by Jennifer Thiessen (viola d'amore) & Ida Toninato (baritone saxophone) 
from The Space Between Us(Ambiances Magnétiques 2018)
http://actuellecd.com/en/album/5842/Ida_Toninato_Jennifer_Thiessen/The_Space_Between_Us

l'aurore

Viola + Viola d'amore:
Baroque, Classical, Contemporary, Improv, Pop

Jennifer Thiessen

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