Daniel Thonon

Accordionist and hurdy-gurdy player, born in 1949 in Brussels (Belgium). Immigrated to Montreal (Canada) in 1963, and studied at McGill University Faculty of Music. Later moved to Switzerland to study harpsichord and early music at the Conservatory of Music in Geneva, and on to Annecy (France) to produce and perform music with his « Le Concert dans l'œuf » early music group. In 1978 he began to study the music of the Arab/Andaluz tradition in Tlemcen (Algeria). Moved back to Canada St-Marc-sur-Richelieu (Quebec) where he still lives. Played with Ensemble Claude Gervaise and Ad Vielle Que Pourra, which disbanded in 1999; after which he formed the group Montcorbier. He composes and arranges for other artists, tours as soloist on the accordion and baroque hurdy-gurdy, and pursues his various activities in musicology and instrument building.