Musique d’hiver (winter music) is an evocative four-movement work intended to portray various aspects of the coldest season of the year. It is imaginative stuff, more delicate than Ms. Hétu’s usual spastic fare. The music is made by a small group of musicians playing a bevy of instruments (among them accordion, saxophone, Jew’s harp, prepared piano, foot tapping and “soundscapes”), with Hétu covering sax and vocals. Her vocal style is as affected and mannered as ever, consisting of growls, whistles, shivering, screeching etc — bel canto it is not
