On Sunday, August 7, 2011, master accordionist Philippe Bruneau passed away.

Many of you will recall that an encounter with Monsieur Bruneau was instrumental for Marc Savoy's development of a better accordion for Cajun music. Marc wrote that the first time he heard Philippe Bruneau playing accordion (on a recording), he couldn't believe he was listening to only one accordion!

Please visit the tribute posting on my blog.
http://melodeonminutes.blogspot.com/2011/08/passing-of-master.html

deepest condolences to his family and friends...

and a deep thank you for his contributions to the accordion arts....

Here is a great rendition of a tune off a La Bottine Souriante CD "La Traversée de l'Atlantique."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKJ2pG_LbmE

peace

That's really a shock.
Philippe Bruneau was the greatest Quebecois accordion player of his time. An incredible musician, and a great influence and inspiration to numerous others. Also a great composer of countless tunes. It never made him rich. His music was his wealth.
May he play his heavenly tunes up there for ever and ever!

Wow! I had never listened to any of his music. He was just amazing.

There are some great recordings available at "Trente Sous Zero":

http://www.trentesouszero.com/085.html

I was able to meet with him many times while visiting friends in Montreal. He was a very unique and very talented accordion player. I am sure he will be missed.

John,
I imagine that Philippe Bruneau must have played one of your boxes at some point --- how did that feel?
-Andy

Felt pretty dam good Andy He was a master musician. A little fact not many people know. He could play button 1 and 10 together with ease.

Hope you and your family are doing well.

That's amazing. His hands must have been huge.

What amazes me when I listen to him is the way he alters the dynamics within a phrase, especially during ornamentation, so that flurries of trills fade in an out of the range of hearing. Spectacular.

spectacular is right. I am Trying to find one of his albums I picked up in Montreal and will have my friend there send several of his composions I had recordings of but lost in Katrins.

He did have pretty big hands but not exceptionally so. He was just able to stretch just right.

One of his compositions played by himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrXIRiIVoPM&NR=1

M. Bruneau is the reason I started playing Quebec music and the one row...
He was also a brilliant 3 row player.

He established a standard of playing that has been reached by but a few.

RIP

Mark Savoy about Bruneau - from the Mark Savoy Page

Quote: "I began getting letters from Bruneau inquiring about my accordions. Several weeks after he received the first one that he ordered, I received a phone call from him saying that he was satisfied with everything except the tuning, and could I possibly retune it if he would ship it down? By that time, I had become addicted to his music and desired to hear more, so I asked why not come down to Louisiana and bring the accordion so that I could tune it to his specifications. Unable to spare the time because of TV work, he replied, "Why don't you come up to Canada?" I arrived in Montreal the next day, thinking I had a fair knowledge of music and that I could make out well enough playing the accordion. I was soon to learn that I knew very little about both. When we arrived at his home, he sat down in front of me and said, "Now I'll show you what your accordion can do." The only accurate recollection I have of that moment was my hair standing straight up and goosebumps all over my skin. Not only did I realize that I was in the presence of musical genius, I also realized that my Acadian accordions were not good enough for a musician of such talent. I became reinspired by my involvement with these musicians. I returned to Louisiana thinking about what Philippe demanded from an instrument and how I could incorporate these criteria into my present model. It was back to the drawing board again.

When I was satisfied that I had an instrument that could keep up with Mr. Bruneau, I called him to say that the new accordion was completed but that the only way he was going to get it would be to come down to Louisiana and pick it up personally He replied that he couldn't because of TV work which he was committed to. Several weeks later, he finally realized that I was not going to ship it to him, and after many accusations that I was the most stubborn man he had ever met, he finally arrived in Louisiana."

I've always wondered what changes Marc made after talking with Bruneau.

Maybe something with the responsiveness of the instrument? To cope with Bruneau's virtuoso abilities and approach?

That would be my guess, too.

I must say that Bruneau was very helpful and generous with his advice to anyone who would listen. He was also a very likeable person. Gills Pare who died several years ago was much the same type of person.