Music Articles

Polig Manjarret’s thoughts on the ‘color’ of Breton music.

03/15/2023

“The character of Breton music”

Polig Monjarret, July 31, 1920 - December 8, 2003, was a musician, music collector, member of the Breton movement, and creator of the Bodadeg ar Sonerion (Brotherhood of Musicians), the main cultural association of traditional Breton music. The author of the all-important massive collection Toniou Breizh-Izel (Tunes of Western Brittany), Monjarret was a singularly important figure in the collection of traditional melodies, and perhaps more importantly also in the renaissance of Breton identity in the 20th century.

His activities were also focused on the development of intercelticism , in particular by promoting the creation of twinning between Breton towns and Irish or Welsh towns, but also by allowing cultural exchanges via involvement in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient and other programs.

The above quote was in response to the question by Jef le Penven, what did he think the ‘particular color’ of Breton music was? We can infer that the intent here in couleur meant more the character or ‘flavor’ of the genre, rather than a particular visual color per se.

His response: It is like cat piss, that’s how it feels!

~ Fañch

10/15/2018

Joseph Mahé, Premier Collecteur De Musique Populaire De Haute Et De Basse-Bretagne

Biographie, manuscrit et analyse. Collection Oral Heritage of Brittany, vol. 8 By Roland Becker Published by DASTUM 2017, 348 pages, French language text

I first discovered the work of Joseph Mahé through the Fest Noz group Koun and their 1995 recording An dro on the Keltia Musique label, which heavily featured tunes taken from this early collector’s manuscripts. Breton tunes from the 1700s, wow! I loved this recording, with the incomparably fine pistoñ (Breton oboe) sound of the late Josik Alot, and the uniquely Breton uilleann pipes of Pascal Martin. The CD booklet contained notes on Mahé’s work, which really fired my imagination and made me hungry for more.

I wouldn’t get more, however, until 2017 when author, composer and musician Roland Becker released this comprehensive, in-depth analysis of Mahé including a massive section reproducing his musical manuscripts.

Becker is one of the most fascinating characters in the Breton scene, producing exquisite recordings such as Kof A Kof with accordionist RégisHuiban, and numerous other projects that display a sometimes fantastical conceptual imagination exceeded only by his virtuosic musicality. As an author he is the real deal when it comes to writing about Breton music, and this lovely book is no exception.

Priest, theologian, historian, and ethnomusicologist before his time, Joseph Mahé (1760-1831) is the definitive Morbihan scholar of the first third of the 19th century. In 1825 he published the Essay on the Antiquities of the Department of Morbihan, in which he notably presented “popular songs of Morbihan” in the form of 40 tunes noted and with commentary. 120 years later the Mahé manuscript in which his entire collection appears was discovered; 285 tunes collected before 1825.

Roland Becker has chosen to present, for the first time, this collection in its entirety, reproducing the original notations of the tunes. He also offers us new insights into the life of Joseph Mahé as well as a musical analysis of the collected material.

~ Fañch

09/12/2017

Matilin an dall, Naissance d’un mythe, Deux siècles de musique bretonne

Published by DASTUM 2006, 250 pages, French language text

By Bernard de Parades with Christian Morvan, Fañch Postic, and Patrick Malrieu

A very real person, a famed talabarder (bombard player) from the town of Kemperle (Quimperlé), born in 1789, Matilin an Dall has since become a veritable myth. This work aims to identify the historical character and his life and adventures. Extremely well documented and filled with fascinating illustrations, this book not only retraces an exceptional career but it also offers us an outside perspective, through literary, journalistic and even administrative texts, focused on Breton popular culture of the 19th century. The book also contains photos and diagrams of actual bombards used by Matilin, and analysis of their design and setup.

It also shows the gradual transition from reality to legend, and how much Matilin has influenced the Breton imagination. Evidenced in the modern musical world by the annual competition “Trophée Matilin an Dall “ at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Matilin’s inspiration has been expressed in countless other forms: song, poetry, music, painting, theater, story, comic strip...

It is also the story of the evolution of the perception of Brittany and its music, over two centuries, which is offered to us through the very particular prism of the life of Matilin an Dall and the voices of his commentators or admirers: romantic exaltations of the 19th century, relevant and precious observations of a few rare witnesses from the beginning of the era, the capacity of myth to generate new realities, steps towards a re-appropriation of Breton popular culture from the second half of the 20th century, and the long-term evolution of the discourse on Breton music over two centuries...

Adding a value worth the purchase price alone, this book also includes the complete Recueil d’Airs de Biniou et de Bombarde by Colonel Alfred Bourgeois, a collection of Matilin’s repertoire, presented directly from the only surviving copy. For the musician, this 35 page book-within-a-book gives an incredible insight into the characteristic material of this region of Brittany in the 19th century. Those looking to add some historical depth to their understanding of the history of Breton Fest Noz music will be well-served by this surprisingly affordable hardcover tome.

~ Fañch

Recueil « Les musiques bretonnes de Régis Huiban » Paker Productions, 2016

10/25/2016

Les musiques bretonnes de Régis Huiban

This is a very exciting book of traditional and original partitions (music scores) by the celebrated chromatic accordionist Régis Huiban. Huiban, who has penned very fine pieces for groups such as Wipidoup, Kof Ha Kof (with the great Roland Becker), and Skolvan, not to mention his solo efforts, is an endlessly intriguing player with tremendous subtlety and depth.

Interestingly enough the book is being put out by Paker Productions, who are better known for backing flashier but more superficial recorded work. Perhaps the organization is maturing and has acquired a taste more for cake than for frosting.

~ Fañch

Duo Menguy – Le Pennec (Tempus fugit, valse). Wooden flute / cittern (Erwan Menguy, Kévin Le Pennec)

08/27/2015

Here’s a stunningly played and beautifully filmed video of two up-and-coming Breton players, Erwan Menguy (flute) and Kévin Le Pennec (cittern). Menguy has appeared as a sideman in a number of settings, and Le Pennec is in the intriguing young group the ‘Zorba Quartet’.

~ Fañch

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