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
