Claire Pelletier (Quebec / Canada)
Born in 1959 in Saint-Pascal, a small village in Quebec’s Kamouraska region on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, Claire Pelletier began her musical journey performing traditional songs drawn from folk archives. She first performed solo with her guitar throughout eastern Quebec before becoming a backing vocalist for other Quebec artists. In 1996, she released her first album of original material, marking the beginning of a long-standing collaboration with producer and composer Pierre Duchesne and lyricist Marc Chabot. Christmas has become a recurring theme throughout her career, inspiring two holiday albums and regular seasonal concerts.
Featured Song:
“Veni Veni Emmanuel” (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel) has its roots in the “O Antiphons,” a series of chants traditionally sung during vespers in the week leading up to Christmas. The Latin hymn dates back to the 12th century, while its melody can be traced to a 15th-century French Franciscan manuscript. In Catholic Quebec, Advent hymns such as this one traditionally preceded Christmas Eve mid-night mass, followed by the réveillon, a festive family gathering featuring tourtière (meat pie) and bûche de Noël (Yule log cake). Pelletier performs the hymn in Latin, accompanied by Pierre Duchesne’s evocative arrangement for piano, organ, and strings.
Featured on:
Click image to learn more