I’ve been listening quite a lot to the album “Korong”, by the group Kornog, and find the music wonderful. I’ve also heard scattered Breton songs on other trad recordings (e.g., the “Dans an Dro” track on one of Laurence Nugent’s CDs, etc.)
So, I’m wondering what suggestions people here have for further exploring this great music. I know we have a couple of real live Bretons on the board, even, so, Zubivka? Anyone? To whom should I be listening? What albums should I track down?
Clarification: I’m looking for Breton music as in “from Brittany”, not Cape Breton stuff. I’ve seen that cause confusion before, so I though I’d try to preempt it this time. . .
I’m teaching a Breton musician Irish trad on tin whistle at the moment - we’ve been exchanging cds, and one of the best groups so far has been Carre (e acute… no idea how to get that character. Any help would be much appreciated) Manchot. I’ve listened to 2 of their albums, and they’re a really great mix - quite high-energy, with various percussion additions, but really really really good!
Enough raving - if you can find them, I think they’re great!
Deirdre
Ok - there is a website, but it’ll definitely help if you understand French… www.carremanchot.com
They have some track mp3s from Degemer at http://www.carremanchot.com/Disco/index.php
(Degemer is a WONDERFUL album - there are some African musicians on there, as well as a drum corps on some of the tracks. It’s incredible stuff!)
John Skelton is a superb Breton player on flute and pipes. One of the quintessential folk artists is Daniel Thonon, who plays accordion, flutes, cornemuse, harpsichord, bagpipes, etc. I think his recordings are available in many places, maybe even Amazon or Virgin Records. You also might try Amazon.com France…I’ve purchased many records through them, even with my bad French language skills. Another compilation to get you started is “Music from Celtic Brittany” (ARC Music EUCD 1383). For some younger, more experimental players: try “penn da benn” from Keltia Musique (penn-da-benn@viola.fr) Skolvan is a high energy group you can’t help but love, and the band Kornog is incredible! (www.kornog.net). I saw them on their last US tour, and the flute playing was amazing. They are recorded on Green Linnet. And finally, “Fest Noz Live”, is another compilation from Keltia Musique.
I love this kind of music! I usually play it on my hurdy gurdy, but the flute and whistle work is lots of fun too.
You can’t miss Alan Stivell, who can be credited for its popular revival in France; he may actuallay be credited for the appearance of the “celtic” music trend, since Brittany acted as a pivot to unite the various local (national) communities.
One of his first albums “reflets”(1970) is now published by disques Dreyfus, distributed by Sony Music France, FDM 36201-2 / CB 701.
For a nice selection of Breton tunes on the flute, uncluttered by heavy orchestration, try Jean-Michel Veillon’s E KOAD NIZAN label GWERZ FLADDEN, distributed by COOP BREIZH, GWP 004
JM Veillon was a member of Kornog, btw.
His recent duet with guitarist Yvon Riou is one of my favorite CD’s : BEO! by An Naer Produksion, see www.an-naer.com
Then of course you know Sylvain Barou, flautist (as well as whistler and biniou-kozh player) is a regular visitor of this board, though you’ll see him more on the Flute forum.
Finally, don’t miss the Festival Interceltique of Lorient in August: plane fares should be quite cheap this summer AND Americans are welcome* as they’ve always been in France.
The Chieftains had an album of all Breton music back in the late eighties or early nineties. I believe it was called “Celtic Wedding” (I have a cassette copy of it somewhere.) Soig Siberil is a Breton artist worth listening to, also
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