Hi, my name is Noé Kwan-Teau.  I'm a fiddler, explorer and lover of nature. When I’m not playing or writing music, you’ll most likely find me outside camping under the stars, hiking through the forest, or paddling on rivers across the Yukon.  I’ve always felt most at home in nature. I've been playing the fiddle since 2014.  After about two years of learning the basics, I joined the Fiddleheads, where I learned the basics of playing in unison with a group. Since then, I've grown from being a student to a performer, a composer and a private fiddle instructor. Taking on a leadership role within the Yukon fiddling community has been such a great experience and I hope that  this page can showcase my growth as a fiddler as well as create a pathway for the next generations of fiddlers to follow and be inspired. 

All grade 12 students at my school are required to do what's called a capstone project. The capstone project is a passion project that students have to work on outside of school hours. This project can be anything that the students want it to be, but they must be able to show that they gained knowledge. For mine, I wanted to record a fiddle music album that showcases all of the fiddling styles I play. I did all of the recording, mixing and advertising of the project with help from my mentors and other friends and family. 

Music

Whispers From The North

Noé Kwan-Teau

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Whispers from the North is my first fiddle album. It features my own arrangements as well as compositions by mentors who have shaped my journey and given me permission to record their work. The album also includes a few Read more

Whispers from the North is my first fiddle album. It features my own arrangements as well as compositions by mentors who have shaped my journey and given me permission to record their work. The album also includes a few traditional tunes that highlight my fiddling roots. Through this project, I wanted to capture the range of styles I have learned over the years, from traditional medleys to contemporary multi part arrangements, reflecting the sounds and influences that define me.

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  1. 1
    Faded Love 2:25
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  2. 2
    Dragon Dance - Writen by Jack Walcher-Wegmann 2:44
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  3. 3
    Raven's Reel - Writen by Keitha Clark 2:55
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    Lonesome Moonlight waltz - feat. Paul Prevost 3:02
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  5. 5
    The Journey 3:11
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Behind the Music

Faded Love

Old Time swing

Faded Love is a traditional fiddle tune writen by American musician and composer Bob Wills. Bob Wills is known as the "Father of Western Swing". 

I recorded this tune with the goal of capturing the warm, nostalgic feel of old-time bluegrass fiddle music. It features a classic three-part fiddle arrangement, supported by bass, guitar, and some light, swingy drums to give it that timeless groove.

Dragon Dance

By Jack Walcher Wegmann

Dragon Dance is a piece written by Fiddleheads’ artistic director, Jack Walcher-Wegmann. Throughout the years, I’ve had the chance to play with Jack on many occasions. Together, we formed South of Town,  and perform together at many events, such as Battle of the Bands and Arts in the Park.

 "The Dragon Dance was one of the tunes I composed with support from Jaron Freeman-Fox. I was thinking a lot about the rhythms and groove as the focus for this one. It kind of reminds me of what I imagine the presence of a dragon to be like, kind of intimidating and powerful but also awe inspiring, which is where the name comes from. I have also always thought of the high parts of the harmony representing all the smaller beings that are no match for the power of the dragon." 

-Jack Walcher Wegmann

I'm so grateful that Jack gave me permission to record this amazing tune. 

 

Lonesome moonlight waltz

Featuring Paul Prevost

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz is a traditional fiddle tune composed by American musician Bill Monroe.

This tune features a mandolin solo and the legendary accompanist Paul Prevost, who I’m proud to call my grandfather, on guitar and bass. When I first moved to the Yukon, Paul was the one who inspired me to start learning the fiddle. He took me to my first ever Fiddleheads concert when I was about nine. From that day on, I knew I wanted to become a Fiddlehead myself.

I’ve included a few photos above as well as in the gallery of Paul recording his parts for Lonesome Moonlight Waltz. An “old-timer” like him isn’t exactly used to playing into a computer with headphones on, but he made it work anyway. 

Raven's Reel

A tune by my mentor

Raven’s Reel was composed by my amazing fiddle teacher, Keitha Clark. Keitha is a well-known icon in the Yukon fiddle community. She has done an incredible job providing education and experiences to young players across the north. Keitha has been an inspiring leader and mentor to me throughout the years. I still remember the first time she encouraged me to write my first ever tune. 

While working on this project, I often turned to Keitha for advice on arranging, composing, recording, and even website design. She’s not only a talented musician, but also a strong leader whose influence runs deep in the Canadian fiddle community. Her dedication and guidance have shaped me, this project, and countless other musicians who have learned from her.

The Journey

Music from the journey

The Journey is an arrangement that I originally composed to play on a looper pedal. I was inspired by the feeling of an adventure through the wilderness. Growing up in the Yukon, I’ve always loved outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and canoeing. This composition is meant to portray the feeling of being on a multi-day trip deep in the wilderness, knowing that you are days away from any civilization.

 

While recording this tune, I experimented a lot with layering multiple tracks together and trying out different digital bass sounds. 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE

Mentors:  Jack  Walcher‑Wegmann, Keitha Clark, Étienne Girard

Featuring: Paul Prevost

Logo Design: Jean-Christophe A. Ménard

Contact me: 

kwanteaun@gmail.com

1.867.689.7892