Acadian Culture in Maine
A Musical History with Robert Sylvain
Many young people don’t realize that once upon a time, most of Maine was known as Acadia. Arriving in 1604, the Acadians were the first colonists of Maine, the “French Neutrals” whose deportation from Nova Scotia was chronicled in Longfellow’s epic poem, Evangeline. Acadian culture is distinct and alive in American society today, and can be witnessed in the unique music, cuisine, language, customs and attitudes of today’s Acadian-Mainers, as well as in the remarkable culture of the the Acadians of Louisiana, known as the Cajuns.
Robert Sylvain, Jr.
is an Acadian-Mainer committed to sharing the traditions of a culture that has been in hiding for generations. As lead singer for the groups Boréal Tordu, Douce, and The Acadian Aces, Robert has toured internationally, and his music has been heard at the Cannes Film Festival, on a compilation cd from Le Centre de la Francophonie des Amériques, on the CBC, PBS and TV5. Recently he was awarded a traditional arts apprenticeship grant from the Maine Arts Council. Drawing from notebooks of Acadian songs left to him by his Mémère Thibodeau, and from his collaborations with Louisiana Cajun cousin Matthew Doucet and Breton guitar master David Surette, Robert explores his rich musical heritage and advances it to a new level.
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Programs to fit any age group
Tailored in length and scope for classroom settings or larger assemblies of elementary to high school audiences, Robert uses song and story to teach Acadian Culture in Maine, a musical history, conveying the Joie de Vivre of Acadian culture while reinforcing important lessons in geography and American history, along with a discussion of music and culture and a little Acadian French language lesson. By allowing students to play traditional instruments, dance and sing along, Robert delivers an interactive educational experience for all ages that is engaging and unforgettable.
About Mémère's Notebook
Robert's grandmother, Elisa Sylvain née Thibodeau, grew up in the St. John's River Valley, in the heart of Maine's Acadian region. As the matriarch of a family of forty grandchildren Elisa made the quilts, cooked the tourtière, and kept the songs of her heritage alive for her progeny. As the keeper of songs in his generation, Robert inherited his Mémère's cherished notebook of old Acadian ballads, which he has painstakingly researched for their historical sources, found the original melodies, translated and arranged the songs to present to a new generation as proof that Acadian culture still lives in Maine.
“Rob Sylvain first came to speak and play in my Maine Ethnography course at Colby College in Spring 2014. His engaged, personal, and knowledgeable presentation on the Acadian music tradition was inspiring and helped us to think about this music—both past and present—in new ways. I was so impressed with Rob’s presentation that I have invited him for every subsequent class I have taught dealing with Franco American music... Whether for an introductory course or a senior seminar, Rob is able to pitch the material just right to create an intellectually and musically stimulating presentation.”
Natalie Zelensky Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Music at Colby College
“In teachers’ terms it meets some of the Maine standards, it really does. There are a lot of pieces there that are in the Maine Learning Results."
5th grade teacher, Buxton Elementary School
“Your program worked really well for me last year because we were also reading a short TCI book about the Grand Derangement at the same time. The students loved the hands on experience with making music the way their ancestors might have, they loved hearing your first hand accounts and songs. Thank you for tying the arts into my curriculum and breathing more life into our work. ”
Christine Marcous, French Teacher Leavitt Area High School, Turner, Maine
