Raphaël Arsenault

The very first New Music Production resident at the CEM and a collaboration that helped consolidate a partnership with Tour de Bras (Rimouski). Alongside musicians Pascal Beaulieu (guitars, sampling), Antoine Simard (double bass), Guillaume Tremblay (saxophones, flute, keyboards) et Pierre-David Girard (percussion), the composer developed and tested a graphic score writing system, based on a timeline and a chronometer. A music of expressive contrasts with feelings of a tormented mankind, great outdoors and inner spaces, erase and reboot effects, and the vehicle of an imaginary folklore that seem to tell a heavy drama of civilisation, carried by the irreducible human essence and its creative call to action manifesto. A very personal and genuine expression, rich in images and sensations, leaving no one indifferent.

  • Raphaël Arsenault
    • Violin
    • Composition
  • Pascal Beaulieu
    • Guitar
    • Machinery and electronics
  • Guillaume Tremblay
    • Keyboards
    • Saxophones
  • Antoine Simard
    • Double bass
  • Pierre-David Girard
    • Drums
    • Machinery and electronics

Raphaël Arsenault is a violinist, composer, performer and musical explorer living in Rimouski. Freed from his classical musical education, he has experimented since 2005 with different sound approaches with or without the help of the violin. He has since sought to mix genres through a quest for basic lyricism, de-urbanized atmospheres and stratospheres, using both sampling and the electronically processed violin. He took part in most of the projects produced by Tour de Bras, both in Rimouski and abroad (Rencontres de Musiques Spontanées, Musique de Batailles, Ceci n'est pas une poème, le Ggril) alongside musicians and improvisers recognized locally and internationally (Éric Normand, James Darling, Isaiah Ceccarelli, Jean Derome, Lori Freedman, Evan Parker, Michael Fischer, Valerie Sabbah, Olivier d'Amours, Philippe Lauzier, Ab Baars, etc.). His inspiration drives him to create imaginary and emotional music, thanks to a musical work that aims to be democratic, horizontal and on a human scale.