Music and dance in Brittany
10:13 AM 
The first time I experienced Breton dance was before I came to live here and I was staying in the Auberge de Jeunesse (Youth Hostel) in Rennes. There was a celebration by the side of the canal. A stage had been erected for the musicians and there was a bonfire waiting to be light at sunset with a firework display planned on the far side of the canal. I enjoyed the first group playing for the dancers and then as they left the stage and two young women took their place I felt disappointed as I thought that the dancing had ended. Then the two young women put their arms around each other and began to sing and the dancers recommenced. Since then I have learnt that instrumental players are not necessary for Breton dancing. Often even at large events singers are used to provide the music. Sometimes a pair of singers, and sometimes a group of 5/6/7 make exciting music for the dancers. There is a group called Les Chanteurs de Loudia who have collected old songs in Gallois and Breton from old people living on remote farms. The most famous and probably the most popular are the Frere Morvans. They have been singing for 50 years and are still ‘amateurs’. they have only recently made a CD.
Fest Noz and Fest Diez
I think I wrote before about the term which means Folk Dance or Ceildhi, a word I have always had trouble spelling and with which no spell checker can help.
The last one I attended was at Jugon Les Lacs which as you can tell by the name has lakes nearby. The Fest Noz was by the lake-side on the local football ground and was attended by about 500 hundred people of all ages. It really is a powerful feeling dancing in a circle with so many people exactly in step and moving in unison.
There were two bands, one of which was composed of two fiddles and a guitarist. The two fiddlers were young women and the guitarist was a young man. It's nice to see young people playing traditional music and the young man called the dances.
It was free of course. I seem to say that a lot but I have been so used to everything being expensive in England that its such a surprise to find that life does not revolve around money here.
Which reminds me that I have to pick blackberries to thank my neighbours for their gifts of vegetables.
Last evening we were supposed to have an end of season party with the gym group, the walking group and the Breton dance group. The event was cancelled because of 'the match' and also because of the thunder storms we'd been having all day. Some of us turned up anyway and as it was warm and sunny and not raining we decided to walk to a nearby chapel. The two musicians led the little group playing traditional Breton tunes on their traditional bagpipes and clarinets.
When we reached the chapel we went inside and danced.
On the return we walked towards the sunset and continually had to pause to look at the stunning cloud formations. Large, multicoloured and billowing one minute, the next completely striated across the horizon. I regretted not having my camera because a series of photo's would have been useful to provide an exercise for sky painting.
On my way home I called at a neighbour's to find out the score. Hurrah for France. 1-0
0 Comments:I am always surprised and delighted whenever I attended a local gathering. We had the event which was postponed last week because of the weather and football last night. We met by the church in the village and some of us walked and some of us drove the two miles to Helen's house.
The tables and chairs were waiting for us in the garden but only Pierre sat down. He immediately took out his melodion and started to play. The rest of us joined little fingers to dance the first An Dro.
It is always the first dance. Every Fest Noz (evening folk event) and Fest Diez ( day-time folk event) begins with an AnDro. It is the easiest of all the Breton dances but deceptively simple as are all Breton dances. I have watched many people, as I did when I first arrived, join in the circle thinking, this is easy, and becoming more and more puzzled as they found themselves out of step.
To the uninitiated it looks as though the circle is just shuffling around clockwise but one soon discovers that the tiny steps are quite complex. Of course there are dances which are very dramatic, like the one where the men leap up in the air and kick their legs out sideways to shoulder height defying gravity but these are now only perfomed at the Festivals by the well rehearsed teams who perform in the traditional costumes. But the majority of the dances are subtlety and gently complex like the polite affectionate characters of the Breton people.
We finish the dancing with our party piece which is very fast and involves much jumping and fancy footwork and requires lots of energy. We sit down at last, breathless, to the greatly appreciated drinks of cider (home-made of course). We eat crêpes, also homemade, with a variety of fillings. It is also someone's birthday so next comes the champagne and we give a birthday toast ( it's always someone's birthday)
As it is the last meeting of the season we have presentations for the musicians. To my surprise I am asked to choose a length of ribbon from three. I thought it was a game but am delight to find that as I chose red I am presented with a large potted plant with red flowers. I only play my clarinet occasionally and even then just one or two tunes. I am astonished. 'It's for encouragement', says Sylvie making the presentation. I am very moved and encouraged.
I love the ambience of these gatherings just twenty or so people dancing, playing and singing together. You have to experience dancing and singing in a circle to know it's power.
Last evening I drove about 20 miles on empty roads through beautiful countryside to a tiny village church to listen to a world class pianist, Louis Lancien, play Brahms, Chopin and Liszt. All of 16 years old, he has already played in Minsk, Paris, Mexico, Berlin and many places in France.
After the concert the audience were invited back to the organiser's house for drinks where we talked with his parents. Louis is the youngest child of six brothers and sisters. They all play an instrument including the father but excepting the mother! They were proud parents and this was the last tour for them. Louis is going into the big wide world to make it or not alone. Next on the list are Germany, Paris again, Japan and many other venues.
I am frequently surprised at the generous hospitality, warmth and friendliness and modesty of everyone here. I never fail to be amazed at the choice and variety of music available to me on my doorstep.
And I drove home again on clear roads by the light of the full moon.
I saw an owl. My friend tells me that an owl at night means good weather tomorrow, an owl in the morning take warning.
Music and Dance in Brittany
The first time I experienced Breton dance was before I came to live here and I was staying in the Auberge de Jeunesse (Youth Hostel) in Rennes. There was a celebration by the side of the canal. A stage had been erected for the musicians and there was a bonfire waiting to be light at sunset with a firework display planned on the far side of the canal. I enjoyed the first group playing for the dancers and then as they left the stage and two young women took their place I felt disappointed as I thought that the dancing had ended. Then the two young women put their arms around each other and began to sing and the dancers recommenced. Since then I have learnt that instrumental players are not necessary for Breton dancing. Often even at large events singers are used to provide the music. Sometimes a pair of singers, and sometimes a group of 5/6/7 make exciting music for the dancers. There is a group called Les Chanteurs de Loudia who have collected old songs in Gallois and Breton from old people living on remote farms. The most famous and probably the most popular are the Frere Morvans. They have been singing for 50 years and are still ‘amateurs’. they have only recently made a CD.
Fest Noz and Fest Diez
I think I wrote before about the term which means Folk Dance or Ceildhi, a word I have always had trouble spelling and with which no spell checker can help.
The last one I attended was at Jugon Les Lacs which as you can tell by the name has lakes nearby. The Fest Noz was by the lake-side on the local football ground and was attended by about 500 hundred people of all ages. It really is a powerful feeling dancing in a circle with so many people exactly in step and moving in unison.
There were two bands, one of which was composed of two fiddles and a guitarist. The two fiddlers were young women and the guitarist was a young man. It's nice to see young people playing traditional music and the young man called the dances.
It was free of course. I seem to say that a lot but I have been so used to everything being expensive in England that its such a surprise to find that life does not revolve around money here.
Which reminds me that I have to pick blackberries to thank my neighbours for their gifts of vegetables.
Last evening we were supposed to have an end of season party with the gym group, the walking group and the Breton dance group. The event was cancelled because of 'the match' and also because of the thunder storms we'd been having all day. Some of us turned up anyway and as it was warm and sunny and not raining we decided to walk to a nearby chapel. The two musicians led the little group playing traditional Breton tunes on their traditional bagpipes and clarinets.
When we reached the chapel we went inside and danced.
On the return we walked towards the sunset and continually had to pause to look at the stunning cloud formations. Large, multicoloured and billowing one minute, the next completely striated across the horizon. I regretted not having my camera because a series of photo's would have been useful to provide an exercise for sky painting.
On my way home I called at a neighbour's to find out the score. Hurrah for France. 1-0
0 Comments:I am always surprised and delighted whenever I attended a local gathering. We had the event which was postponed last week because of the weather and football last night. We met by the church in the village and some of us walked and some of us drove the two miles to Helen's house.
The tables and chairs were waiting for us in the garden but only Pierre sat down. He immediately took out his melodion and started to play. The rest of us joined little fingers to dance the first An Dro.
It is always the first dance. Every Fest Noz (evening folk event) and Fest Diez ( day-time folk event) begins with an AnDro. It is the easiest of all the Breton dances but deceptively simple as are all Breton dances. I have watched many people, as I did when I first arrived, join in the circle thinking, this is easy, and becoming more and more puzzled as they found themselves out of step.
To the uninitiated it looks as though the circle is just shuffling around clockwise but one soon discovers that the tiny steps are quite complex. Of course there are dances which are very dramatic, like the one where the men leap up in the air and kick their legs out sideways to shoulder height defying gravity but these are now only perfomed at the Festivals by the well rehearsed teams who perform in the traditional costumes. But the majority of the dances are subtlety and gently complex like the polite affectionate characters of the Breton people.
We finish the dancing with our party piece which is very fast and involves much jumping and fancy footwork and requires lots of energy. We sit down at last, breathless, to the greatly appreciated drinks of cider (home-made of course). We eat crêpes, also homemade, with a variety of fillings. It is also someone's birthday so next comes the champagne and we give a birthday toast ( it's always someone's birthday)
As it is the last meeting of the season we have presentations for the musicians. To my surprise I am asked to choose a length of ribbon from three. I thought it was a game but am delight to find that as I chose red I am presented with a large potted plant with red flowers. I only play my clarinet occasionally and even then just one or two tunes. I am astonished. 'It's for encouragement', says Sylvie making the presentation. I am very moved and encouraged.
I love the ambience of these gatherings just twenty or so people dancing, playing and singing together. You have to experience dancing and singing in a circle to know it's power.
Last evening I drove about 20 miles on empty roads through beautiful countryside to a tiny village church to listen to a world class pianist, Louis Lancien, play Brahms, Chopin and Liszt. All of 16 years old, he has already played in Minsk, Paris, Mexico, Berlin and many places in France.
After the concert the audience were invited back to the organiser's house for drinks where we talked with his parents. Louis is the youngest child of six brothers and sisters. They all play an instrument including the father but excepting the mother! They were proud parents and this was the last tour for them. Louis is going into the big wide world to make it or not alone. Next on the list are Germany, Paris again, Japan and many other venues.
I am frequently surprised at the generous hospitality, warmth and friendliness and modesty of everyone here. I never fail to be amazed at the choice and variety of music available to me on my doorstep.
And I drove home again on clear roads by the light of the full moon.
I saw an owl. My friend tells me that an owl at night means good weather tomorrow, an owl in the morning take warning.
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