Top of page

Audio Recording A Wandering Canadian. Un Canadien errant

A Wandering Canadian

About this Item

Title

  • A Wandering Canadian.

Other Title

  • Un Canadien errant

Summary

  • Engraved on a wax cylinder around 1905, this rendition by Joseph Saucier (1869-1941) and an accompanying orchestra is one of the oldest known recordings of Un Canadien errant (A wandering Canadian), a folk song written in 1842 by Antoine Gérin-Lajoie and sung to the tune of J'ai fait une maîtresse (I have found a mistress). With the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837-38 as its theme, the song became one of the most popular songs of the late 1800s in French Canada. It has been recorded on many occasions ever since. This phonograph cylinder is part of the collection of Jean-Jacques Schira. The precursor to the disc record, the phonographic cylinder was the earliest medium for audio recording and listening. Born in Montreal, Saucier was a Canadian baritone and choirmaster who trained as a pianist with his father before choosing to pursue a career as a singer. He performed as a soloist at different churches in Canada and with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, studied voice in Paris, and performed to audiences in France, Britain, and the United States. He was the organist and choirmaster at St.-Louis du Mile-End Church in Montréal and later choirmaster at St.-Louis-de-France Church. He is believed to have been the first French Canadian singer to make a recording in Canada, which he did circa 1904, at around the time this recording was made.

Names

  • Gérin-Lajoie, Antoine, 1824-1882 Lyricist.
  • Saucier, Joseph, 1869-1941 Singer.

Created / Published

  • New York : Columbia Phonograph Company, 1905.

Headings

  • -  Canada
  • -  1905
  • -  Canada--History--Rebellion, 1837-1838
  • -  Folk music
  • -  Music
  • -  Popular music

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 cylinder ; 2:17 minutes in duration.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library and Archives of Quebec.
  • -  Content in French.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021671083

Online Format

  • audio

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Gérin-Lajoie, Antoine, Lyricist, and Joseph Saucier. A Wandering Canadian. New York: Columbia Phonograph Company, 1905. Audio. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2021671083/.

APA citation style:

Gérin-Lajoie, A. & Saucier, J. (1905) A Wandering Canadian. New York: Columbia Phonograph Company. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2021671083/.

MLA citation style:

Gérin-Lajoie, Antoine, Lyricist, and Joseph Saucier. A Wandering Canadian. New York: Columbia Phonograph Company, 1905. Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2021671083/>.