Vishten

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Vishten plays a mixture of Acadian, Irish, and Scottish music styles, with fiery fiddling and powerful step dancing taking front and center. Formed in 2000 on their native Prince Edward Island, Vishten is a sextet of young traditional Acadian musicians/dancers founded by twin sisters Pastelle LeBlanc (accordion, piano, dance) and Emmanuelle LeBlanc (bodhran, tin whistle, piano, dance) and Pascal Miousse (fiddle,mandolin, guitar).

Their stage show recalls the joy and energy of the Acadian “kitchen party,” informal community gatherings where all are welcome to sing, play and dance. The rhythms and melodies are inseparable, and reflect the joie de vivre of the Acadian culture of Eastern Canada, with flying fingers, tapping feet, and an unabashed sense of celebration.

All the members in the group contribute to the choreography and musical arrangements, and they all sing. On stage, they work with individual wooden “blocs” that they sit on, dance and play on top of, and use as percussion instruments with both their hands and feet. Their performances are characterized by their high energy and enthusiasm.

In 2001, Vishten was awarded the prize for the best musical showcase at the East Coast Music Awards, Eastern Canada’s version of the Grammy and in 2002, they were invited to participate in the ECMA’s opening performance. They recently toured with famed Québécois band La Bottine Souriante, and recorded on La Bottine Souriante’s Mille Pattes record label.

1 Emmanuelle Leblanc
2 Pastelle Leblanc
3 Pascal Miousse
4 Discography
5 External links

[edit] Emmanuelle Leblanc

In addition to playing piano, bodhran, and Irish flute, Emmanuelle sings and dances. She and Pastelle, her twin sister, were invited as members of the group Pas d'folies to take part in the World Dance Festival in Prince Edward Island for three years running. Emmanuelle is fascinated and inspired by musical rhythm, and uses the flute to convey the sentimental, mysterious side of her spirit. Music and dance play central roles in her life, and her contagious enthusiasm contributes enormously to Vishten's energetic style.

[edit] Pastelle Leblanc

Pastelle took her first dance steps not long after she learned to walk. Along with Emmanuelle, her twin sister, she was nominated in 1999 for the Dance Artist of the Year award at Moncton's Millennium Gala. Pastelle's sings and plays piano and accordion. She also contributes her skills in composition and choreography to the group's projects.

Pastelle Leblanc

[edit] Pascal Miousse

Music has always been part a part of Pascal's life. His father was a notable accompanist on Magdalen Islands. Under his fathere's influence, Pascal learned to play the fiddle and occasionally performed with his father. Pascal left the Islands at the age of 18 to pursue his career, and headed for mainland Québec. He soon began playing with such groups such as: Les Gabotteux, Kootchie Band and Sêve and accompanied them on tours in Quebec, Nunavut and New Brunswick. Recently he performed with Les Frères Painchaud during their tour of Eastern Canada. Pascal's is sometimes known to swings his bow in a unique way.