The great singer and storyteller Marcel Le Guilloux passed away on the morning of Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem, at the age of 93.

Born in Lanrivain on October 8, 1930, Guilloux was the youngest of eight children. He learned the Breton language through his mother's catechism, due to the fact that teaching Breton was banned in French schools. He was born visually impaired, which prevented him from attending school until the age of 10. His father died in an accident in 1953, leaving him the primary caretaker of the farm. He ran the farm with his sister Maria and his brother-in-law André Le Roux in Crec'h Morvan in Lanrivain.

At the heart of a land of abundant oral tradition where the Breton language served as a cement for the entire population, he experienced the revival of Fest Noz, then sang in kan-ha-diskan (call and response duos) with various friends including Yann-Fañch Kemener, whose material Marcel absorbed. He also drew from the recordings of the spoken newspaper of central Brittany (of which his brother-in-law was one of the initiators) to forge a vast repertoire anchored in the Fañch country.

Passionate about the transmission of a heritage whose value he grasped very early on, Marcel led a large number of workshops, which is why so many of the current singers in Central Brittany recognize him as their master.

Marcel was blessed with an exceptional memory which allowed him to recall the words of songs rarely sung. He perfectly illustrated the adage that “an elder who disappears is a library that burns”.

Dastum published a beautiful book in 2019 presenting all the facets of this more than endearing character. Credit here goes to the team who put it together, in particular to Marthe Vassallo who did a remarkable job formatting the interviews carried out over months. Thanks to this work, many in the future will also have the chance to know Marcel Le Guilloux at least a little.

~ Fañch