Although Breton music has been in
existence for as long as this region of
The traditional forms of the music are strongly supported and it is impossible to live in this region without taking part in at least one celebration with Breton folk music during the summer. I've found that Breton music has a very unique sound, distinct from other Celtic regions; it could not be described as melodic but definitely loud. The bombard, a member of the oboe family, is frequently incorporated in instrumentals; and certainly lives up to its name with its high-pitched sound overpowering all the other instruments. The music is of course the staple diet at a Breton fest-noz (night festival as opposed to a fest diez, day festival), both of which would require you to learn at least a few basic dance steps to be able to join in. On these occasions be prepared at each interval during your meal to be vigorously whisked away from your table into long bouts of dancing; which involves weaving in and out of other bodies on the dance floor while remaining linked (usually just by the little finger) to the persons on either side of you. It is a form of country dancing that should not be undertaken by the faint hearted as you will find they are a demanding exercise! The dances arranged in couples are called “bal de…..” dance of followed by the name of the place where it originated from: such as the Bal de Dinan or Bal de Jugon. The dances arranged for groups of four, for the more advanced or more fool hardy, are usually performed at a more elaborate and faster pace. The music and festivities reach long into the early hours of the morning, the music and the dancing and the inexhaustible energy of the Bretons; requires stamina and fortitude to tackle these events.
We have found the distinct
differences of
Another musical experience not to
be missed is more usually found in the villages nearer the sea. A backdrop of
gentle waves and a setting sun provides a picturesque scene for a very
different musical evening harking back to the history of
We decided on arriving in
Scottish-style pipe bands called
a bagad (bagadoú
plural) and use a similar array of instruments including the Scottish highland
pipes. The Scottish highland pipes are called biniou bras and although the sound is the same I have been reliably
informed it is played entirely differently. The performances of the Irish harp
are a welcome softening of tone amongst the mêlée of noise during the festivals
or perhaps it is just the more melodic simpler tune I am more comfortable with.
All of this, along with colourful
costumes and groups from all Celtic related societies (Scotland, Ireland and
Wales) as well as Galicia, Cornwall, Canada and perhaps more surprisingly the
Caribbean and India. It is the measure of the extent folk music and dancing
traditions reflect the global popularity by the crowds of spectators and
tourists that gather at this time of year all over
It is essentially a masterful annual display of the Breton culture, which cannot (and should not) be ignored if you wish to better understand the character of the people that has shaped this part of the hexagon. However, after further time spent observing the musical celebrations we have come to the conclusion, it is not a question of just listening to a few songs and musical performances because they are essentially Breton; and to truly understand and appreciate it you have to be Breton.
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