Joseph Morneault

Joseph Morneault is one of the original members of the Jovial Crew, playing alongside of Cliff Haslam since the group’s formation. His family is Brayon Français from the region of La République du Madawaska, or the area of south western New Brunswick, Canada; he also lived on Staten Island for a time, interacting daily with aged former sailors and WWI vets, so Joseph brings some traditions from his youth there as well as his years of love and interaction with early American music and research of sea history. While a “tween” in the late 70s he used to busk on the Staten Island Ferry and in Battery Park, then moved back to Connecticut where he became involved in the Irish music “session circuit” and became involved in a number of bands over the years and even ran a historical contradance group – The Wild Colonial Boys – for a time. You will generally find an assortment of instruments in his stockpile, blending different sounds and textures into the songs we sing. He has actually made some of the instruments he plays and he is the owner/operator/performer as MusiqueMorneaux; a workshop that handcrafts woodwinds for traditional Celtic music, early American, fife & drum corps, etc.

Joseph Morneault is a social historian and performs with a few groups as well as performing some solo work, bringing to life early American songs relating to the everyday person: work songs, songs of the sailor, drinking songs, songs of love and consequences, ballads, and introspective songs. His involvement with traditional and historical fife and drum goes back to his earliest grammar school days. While he still plays (as well as makes) fifes and such, he is currently a free agent, focusing more on his craftsmanship and his interpretation of songs. Joseph is the Founder and President of the Annual Connecticut Sea Music Festival, which takes place in Essex, CT.