October 27, 2009
Sunday in Kyoto
On October 27, 2009 – The Secret Mountain will release Sunday in Kyoto, a storybook-music CD featuring songs by Gilles Vigneault, one of Canada’s central music figures of the 20th century. The songs are sung by acclaimed artists including Patrick Watson, winner of Canada’s prestigious Polaris Prize in 2007, Coral Egan, Ndidi O, Thomas Hellman and Gilles’ daughter Jessica Vigneault. Sunday in Kyoto arrives on the heels of the acclaimed Secret Mountain release My Name is Chicken Joe, which features music from four-time Grammy nominees Trout Fishing in America and earned praise from Publisher’s Weekly, The New York Times, Associated Press, Scholastic Parent & Child and more.
An iconic poet and singer-songwriter deeply rooted in Canada’s history, Gilles Vigneault wrote the 14 songs that accompany Sunday in Kyoto. They evoke his love of nature, culture and travel and are imbued with natural imagery as well as multinational characters and settings. The title track tells the story of a Cajun musician who lives with his Japanese partner in Kyoto, enjoying Sunday afternoon jam sessions with friends from far away places, while other songs are educational, with counting and spelling in several languages including English, French and Japanese.
The storybook-music CD features vivid illustrations by accomplished French-Canadian artist Stéphane Jorisch, who also provided the artwork for My Name is Chicken Joe and has created sets for Le Cirque du Soleil. This innovative packaging, combining a hardcover book with a CD, is ideal for young children.
Roland Stringer, founder of The Secret Mountain, says of Gilles Vigneault, “He’s French-Canada’s Pete Seeger! Having always written and performed for both children and adults, he has embodied for more than half a century similar ideals, that of an engaged humanist. His influence has been huge. Did you know that throughout Quebec, “Happy Birthday” has been replaced by a song that he wrote? He continues to be a fascinating poet, musician and performer, and we’re thrilled to present his stories and music in a context that the whole family can continue to enjoy.”
The Secret Mountain is dedicated to the creation of children’s books, videos and audio recordings of the highest quality. Recent releases by The Secret Mountain include the acclaimed My Name is Chicken Joe, by Trout Fishing in America, and Down at the Sea Hotel, which features dream songs by icons including Neil Young, Tom Waits, Don Henley and Billy Joel, as performed by roots music artists Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka and Guy Davis, amongst others.
