Without a doubt, J’entends le moulin has become a favorite concert and competition piece in the repertoire of hundreds of choirs in North America and beyond. It was written some years ago for the junior PSBGM choral from Montreal whose director, Erica Phare, asked me if I would write an arrangement for them. I spent a half-day with the young choristers at a weekend retreat exploring a number of musical and textual ideas that both they and I dreamed up and then began working on the piece. They were thrilled to be a part of a “composition in the making” and I was thrilled to have the help! Subsequently Erica programmed the piece frequently, as did her choral colleague, Patricia Abbott, who directed the Senior PSBGM chorale. Between them they introduced J’entends le moulin into the repertoire of choirs all over the world, where the piece has been found more often than not as a concert finale. The piece works best sung as spiritedly and quickly as possible, for that’s how French Canadians like it!
The clip heard here surely qualifies as 'spirited'. It is from the Elektra Women's Choir CD From the Heart, under the direction of Diane Loomer.
