Mirabelle Jien x Orchestra
The Éditions Plamondon team is thrilled to partner with singer-songwriter Mirabelle Jien to create a one-of-a-kind audio-visual concert experience.
Mirabelle Jien is a multi-disciplinary artist from Calgary, Alberta. I met her in early 2020 at the University of Toronto, where she was busy completing her Masters of Music in flute performance. Behind a soft-spoken demeanor hides a fiercely entrepreneurial and boundlessly creative spirit. COVID-19 lockdowns in March 2020 only strengthened her resolve, and she set to work releasing singles and EPs at an impressive rate. Many of her songs center around the day-to-day human experience; loss, self-doubt, connecting with loved ones in the digital age, and the healing power of nature.
Thousands of people tune in regularly to listen and enjoy the ambience of her twice-weekly streams on Twitch. She has built a community of loyal fans through a blend of live performance and casual hangout; viewers can have a direct impact on the show, from changing the colour of her studio's lighting to making song requests to interacting directly with Mirabelle in between songs.
Mirabelle's Twitch channel also serves as a weekly performance laboratory. The "floop" (a flute solo over a loop) is a particular fan favourite, and over the years she has developed and mastered a style of improvisation that is very distinctly her own. Wielding her flute, guitar, and trusty looping pedal, she regularly performs her original songs in venues across Canada and abroad.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Mirabelle performing at Jade Music Fest in October 2023.
ép is a collaborator on the Mirabelle Jien x Orchestra project, featuring several of Mirabelle's original songs scored for orchestra. The show has a very cinematic flavour; coming from a classical background, Mirabelle's songs instantly lend themselves to the symphonic treatment.
I have already completed around half of the scoring in consultation with Mirabelle. I bring over a decade of experience writing for orchestra, and I've worked on music performed by most major Canadian symphony orchestras. I'm delighted to be helping to create a show that is entirely unique and quintessentially Canadian.
As a proof of concept, the string quartet version of the show debuted in Calgary on June 23, 2024. The second performance on October 24th was a collaboration with Calgary-based Kensington Sinfonia.
We are in the process of applying for recording grants for 2025, so stay tuned. In the meantime, we actively seeking orchestras (and string quartets!) who would be interested in programming Mirabelle Jien x Orchestra. Printed or digital scores and parts will be made available free of charge by Éditions Plamondon. If your ensemble is interested, please get in touch!