Can't answer your question, as I don't live in Ireland. But I can tell you that there is some interest in it in my home city (Bristol, England) - there is a pub session here once per month that is devoted to French and Breton music.
In case you're interested (and don't already know of it), here is a link to a good site for Breton tunes:
Crested Hens is not a breton tune, at all! It is a recent composition by Gilles Chabenat, a hurdy gurdy player from *central* France.
As for Tri Martolod, it is, strangely enough, both a dance tune (used for the Gavotte de Lannilis), but in this kind of example is rather a Fields of Athenry kind of thing.
Breton trad is a wonderful thing though. Do searches for "Kan ha diskan", "fest noz" and the like
The thing is, Breton tunes like the one on the YouTube clip can sound a bit weak and repetitive if they're played several times through by a solo fiddle / flute / whistle in a session over here.
They sound great when they're being played by several instruments together in Brittany, and/or by people who are thoroughly versed in Breton music: the rhythmic idiosyncracies and the harmonies / cross-rhythms etc. make the music sound rich and powerful, not to mention local instruments like the biniou and the bombarde or the presence of huge numbers of fans singing along (is every trad concert in Brittany like the warm-up to a big international match?!).
Living in England, I have never (yet) been in a session where a Breton tune has reached that kind of "critical mass" - i.e., been played by enough people with enough knowledge of the music to bring it to life and make it exciting. And if Breton music is normally sung along to - at any rate, more than Irish or English trad - that would be another obstacle: people wouldn't know the words. Sure, enough people here can read and speak some French, but Breton's another thing! Mind, Welsh-speakers can understand it, I'm told.
And I think a lot of Breton music's in Bb, not everyone's easiest key to play in. Irish, English and Scottish music's mainly played in sessions in D, G, A and their related modal scales.
This weekend you can actually hear the best Breton music-online. Cyber Fest Noz is organised for the 10th time this year, and it's going to be awesome -as usual.
list of artists(with short videos to wet your apetite): http://www.antourtan.org/cyber2008/rubriques/01/
How to enjoy it?
This Saturday, September 20th:
1.Have flash player installed
2. go to: http://www.antourtan.org/cyber2008/
starting from 8pm CET
(I guess that should be 5pm UTC/2pmEST)
it's NIGHT festival, so it will take a few hours.
VOILA!
Someone has already post a translation, earlier in this discussion!
Incidentally, the Breton language is related to Welsh, with about 50% of commonly used words being simliar or identical. For example, the Welsh word for "three" is "tri" - the same as the Breton word.
2 Mix O'Lydian:
I do not know Welsh because speak Russian language where the number "three" sounds like "tri" and "martolod" sounds like "moryaka". So if we'll go inside the languages and the comporative linguistic, we'll find that our people are more relative to each other as we thought before.
Otherside the melody of this song is very famous and it seems that it is an equivalent in our tunes. The form of lyric-poem is close to many Slavic folk poems that's why I'd like to combine the Breton and Russian lyric together in a one song.
Tri martolod yaouank (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Tri martolod yaouank o voned da veajiñ
Tri martolod yaouank (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Tri martolod yaouank o voned da veajiñ
O voned da veajiñ ge, o voned da veajiñ (bis)
Gant avel bet kaset (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Gant avel bet kaset betek an Douar Nevez
Betek an Douar Nevez ge, betek an Douar Nevez
E-kichen maen ar veilh (tra la la, la di ga dra)
E-kichen maen ar veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
O deus mouilhet o eorioù ge, o deus mouilhet o eorioù
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
E oa ur servijourez ge, e oa ur servijourez
Hag e c'houlenn ganin (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Hag e c'houlenn ganin pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
Pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs ge, pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
E Naoned, er marc'had (tra la la, la di ga dra)
E Naoned, er marc'had hor boa choazet ur walenn
Hor boa choazet ur walenn ge, hor boa choazet ur walenn
Gwalenn ar promesa (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Gwalenn ar promesa, ha par omp da zimeziñ
Ha par omp da zimeziñ ge, ha par omp da zimeziñ
- Ni 'zimezo hon-daou (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ni 'zimezo hon-daou, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
Ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj ge, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
- Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
N'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes ge, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
- N'hon eus na ti na plouz, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
N'hon eus na ti na plouz, na gwele da gousket en noz
Na gwele da gousket en noz ge, na gwele da gousket en noz
N'eus na liñser na lenn, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
N'eus na liñser na lenn, na pennwele dindan ar penn
Na pennwele dindan ar penn ge, na pennwele dindan ar penn
N'hon eus na skuell na loa, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
N'hon eus na skuell na loa, na danvez d'ober bara
Na danvez d'ober bara ge, na danvez d'ober bara
- Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar, ni 'gousko war an douar
Ni 'gousko war an douar ge, ni 'gousko war an douar
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
Pa sav an heol 'ya da redek ge, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
Echu eo ma jañson, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Echu eo ma jañson, an hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
An hini 'oar 'c'hontinui, an hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
"Crested Hen" was composed by Gilles Chabenat, from another French region, Berry (Centre France). There are many other trad musics in France including Caribbean and Amerindian in the West Indies and Guyana.
The "Breton" language has been reinvented from various dialects, and counts very few, if any, native speakers.
The connection between the nazi occupant and the Breton autonomists was a fact during WW2, the Breton flag dates from this period.
The "pure drop" Breton music is quite... austere and requires an acquired taste (biniou and bombarde couple for instance). This is why it is heavily "irish styled" by the local musicians, who, BTW, live mainly off the state through a special statute...
2 Mix O'Lydian )))
very nice ))) that's ok.
but that lyrics in Breton was not I am loking for))
Look, "Transcription is the conversion into written, typewritten or printed form, of a spoken language source, such as the proceedings of a court hearing.(wikipedia)"
yaouank=[ya-o] ?
That's why I ask how to pronounce Breton words because listening to Alan Stivell (for ex.) - it's difficult to hear everything correct. I've found a Breton prononce rules but it doesn't help also ((
"The 'Breton' language has been reinvented from various dialects, and counts very few, if any, native speakers."
"Invented from various dialects"? No, unless you mean that it evolved from Brythonic, brought to the region by Roman-British settlers in the 3rd century. Breton texts exist from the 8th century, and the first French dictionary contained many Breton words. In the mid-19th century, 98% of the population of Brittany were Breton speakers.
"Few, if any, native speakers"? Still about 200,000 - although declining at a rate of about 10,000 per year, as the majority of speakers are over 60.
The language suffers from being the ONLY living Celtic language spoken in western Europe that receives no recognition from a national government.
Would that be your government, by any chance, Domren?
Thanks for setting the record straight, Mix O'Lydian. Domren, you obviously don't know what you are talking about. FYI, I happen to be a native speaker of the Breton language (no need for inverted commas) and last time I checked, I had a pulse. You may not like Breton music, and it's perfectly all right, but there is no need to bring up the sore subject of collaboration with the Nazis, which, by the way, involved no more than a few dozen benighted individuals.
What do you call the INCREDIBLY LOUD Breton bagpipe with the very short chanter ?
Am still feeling hearing loss from being in the church at Towersey with one for 20 minutes of playing. The bombard player next to him was wearing earplugs.
The Great Pipes had nothing on this guy.
Severus - gald that my suggested link was of some help. If you have any further questions, you might try sending an email to pennhorse, who is a native Breton speaker.
Domren has already been put firmly in his place, and rightly so. But I have to query the statement that in the19th century, 98% of the population of Brittany were Breton speakers. Much of Haute Bretagne hasn't spoken Breton for a long time, but is no less proudly Breton for that.
True, quinn, Breton was spoken in Western Brittany by the vast majority of the population until the beginning of the 20th century, whereas Haute-Bretagne spoke Gallo.
About breton music ...
About breton music ...
I was curious about what people in Ireland think about breton music. Do you sometimes play breton tunes in your session ?
Here is an example of a famous song I like a lot :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra3Igp-Zr6Y
Alex
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by Ralex
Re: About breton music ...
I wish I wasn't so ignorant and could understand the words, the whole place was singing with them, great stuff. Fiddles and harps galore!
Someone is always bound to trot out Crested Hens at our sessions.
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: About breton music ...
Can't answer your question, as I don't live in Ireland. But I can tell you that there is some interest in it in my home city (Bristol, England) - there is a pub session here once per month that is devoted to French and Breton music.
In case you're interested (and don't already know of it), here is a link to a good site for Breton tunes:
http://breizhpartitions.free.fr/en/
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
Just found this googling around:
Three young sailors (tra la la la lala la) <-- I won't write that each and every time...
Three young sailory went on a journey
The wind drove them
To the new world
Beside the stone of the old mill
They lowered anchor
And in the mill
There was a servant
She asked me
Where we got to know each other
In Nantes at the market
We chose a ring
The ring of engagement
And we were short before marriage
We will marry
Even if we don't have any goods
My mother, you are living comfortable
You don't know who is suffering
We have neither house nor straw
Nor bed to sleep at night
We have neither sheet nor blanket
Or quilt (pillow?) beneath our heads
We will do it like the down-and-out
We will sleep on the floor
We will do it like the partridge
When the sun rises, it runs away
My song is at an end
The on who knows, may continue
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by Ramiro
Re: About breton music ...
Crested Hens is not a breton tune, at all! It is a recent composition by Gilles Chabenat, a hurdy gurdy player from *central* France.
As for Tri Martolod, it is, strangely enough, both a dance tune (used for the Gavotte de Lannilis), but in this kind of example is rather a Fields of Athenry kind of thing.
Breton trad is a wonderful thing though. Do searches for "Kan ha diskan", "fest noz" and the like
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by Tirno
Re: About breton music ...
In case you'r e interested.......
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/12231
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: About breton music ...
Aha! Thanks Tirno, I'll update our sessions' info next time someone drags it out!
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: About breton music ...
The thing is, Breton tunes like the one on the YouTube clip can sound a bit weak and repetitive if they're played several times through by a solo fiddle / flute / whistle in a session over here.
They sound great when they're being played by several instruments together in Brittany, and/or by people who are thoroughly versed in Breton music: the rhythmic idiosyncracies and the harmonies / cross-rhythms etc. make the music sound rich and powerful, not to mention local instruments like the biniou and the bombarde or the presence of huge numbers of fans singing along (is every trad concert in Brittany like the warm-up to a big international match?!).
Living in England, I have never (yet) been in a session where a Breton tune has reached that kind of "critical mass" - i.e., been played by enough people with enough knowledge of the music to bring it to life and make it exciting. And if Breton music is normally sung along to - at any rate, more than Irish or English trad - that would be another obstacle: people wouldn't know the words. Sure, enough people here can read and speak some French, but Breton's another thing! Mind, Welsh-speakers can understand it, I'm told.
And I think a lot of Breton music's in Bb, not everyone's easiest key to play in. Irish, English and Scottish music's mainly played in sessions in D, G, A and their related modal scales.
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by nicholas
Re: About breton music ...
I was thinking of moving there. But I play B/C and wight have to learn a different box...or go back to PA.
I don't know if Herself would be ready for that even though she is a big Breton fan
# Posted on September 19th 2008 by zippydw
Re: About breton music ...
This weekend you can actually hear the best Breton music-online. Cyber Fest Noz is organised for the 10th time this year, and it's going to be awesome -as usual.
list of artists(with short videos to wet your apetite):
http://www.antourtan.org/cyber2008/rubriques/01/
How to enjoy it?
This Saturday, September 20th:
1.Have flash player installed
2. go to:
http://www.antourtan.org/cyber2008/
starting from 8pm CET
(I guess that should be 5pm UTC/2pmEST)
it's NIGHT festival, so it will take a few hours.
VOILA!
# Posted on September 20th 2008 by leaf
Re: About breton music ...
But that's in French... it should be in Breton... I wouldn't understand anything either but it'd be cooler.
Where do I have to click?
# Posted on September 20th 2008 by Pere
Re: About breton music ...
click on the white arrow in the center of the screen
would be cool, I agree, but this forum is not all in Irish, either.
# Posted on September 20th 2008 by leaf
Re: About breton music ...
Yes, it's all going on, but the computer is feeble and I've had to keep re-starting the video every few moments.
Were it not for a defective computer and aged parents, I'd enjoy it in full-screen, full volume, with a flagon of Breton marching-juice.
# Posted on September 20th 2008 by nicholas
Re: About breton music ...
The latter would magically enable me to sing along in Breton.
# Posted on September 20th 2008 by nicholas
Re: About breton music ... and lyric))
Who can read Breton? Could you write here a transcription of that "Tri martolod" song?
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by severus
Re: About breton music ...
Someone has already post a translation, earlier in this discussion!
Incidentally, the Breton language is related to Welsh, with about 50% of commonly used words being simliar or identical. For example, the Welsh word for "three" is "tri" - the same as the Breton word.
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
TRANSCRIPTION!!!! - I mean not the meaning but the spelling!))
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by severus
Re: About breton music ...
As I hear it:
[tri martolod yo-ou
I vone da veaji ge
gon ave be kase
bete gan Duve Neve (ge)
I kishen men ave
o dou smoyo to eyo-ge
Hag e bar se vey-se
Ey var ur sorvijoure]
So the question is: how to spell?
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by severus
Re: About breton music ...
2 Mix O'Lydian:
I do not know Welsh because speak Russian language where the number "three" sounds like "tri" and "martolod" sounds like "moryaka". So if we'll go inside the languages and the comporative linguistic, we'll find that our people are more relative to each other as we thought before.
Otherside the melody of this song is very famous and it seems that it is an equivalent in our tunes. The form of lyric-poem is close to many Slavic folk poems that's why I'd like to combine the Breton and Russian lyric together in a one song.
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by severus
Re: About breton music ...
Cожалеющий!
Here is the Breton:
Tri martolod yaouank (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Tri martolod yaouank o voned da veajiñ
Tri martolod yaouank (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Tri martolod yaouank o voned da veajiñ
O voned da veajiñ ge, o voned da veajiñ (bis)
Gant avel bet kaset (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Gant avel bet kaset betek an Douar Nevez
Betek an Douar Nevez ge, betek an Douar Nevez
E-kichen maen ar veilh (tra la la, la di ga dra)
E-kichen maen ar veilh o deus mouilhet o eorioù
O deus mouilhet o eorioù ge, o deus mouilhet o eorioù
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Hag e-barzh ar veilh-se e oa ur servijourez
E oa ur servijourez ge, e oa ur servijourez
Hag e c'houlenn ganin (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Hag e c'houlenn ganin pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
Pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs ge, pelec'h 'n eus graet konesañs
E Naoned, er marc'had (tra la la, la di ga dra)
E Naoned, er marc'had hor boa choazet ur walenn
Hor boa choazet ur walenn ge, hor boa choazet ur walenn
Gwalenn ar promesa (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Gwalenn ar promesa, ha par omp da zimeziñ
Ha par omp da zimeziñ ge, ha par omp da zimeziñ
- Ni 'zimezo hon-daou (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ni 'zimezo hon-daou, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
Ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj ge, ha pa n'eus ket avañtaj
- Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ma mamm c'hwi zo 'n hoc'h aez, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
N'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes ge, n'ouzoc'h ket piv zo diaes
- N'hon eus na ti na plouz, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
N'hon eus na ti na plouz, na gwele da gousket en noz
Na gwele da gousket en noz ge, na gwele da gousket en noz
N'eus na liñser na lenn, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
N'eus na liñser na lenn, na pennwele dindan ar penn
Na pennwele dindan ar penn ge, na pennwele dindan ar penn
N'hon eus na skuell na loa, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
N'hon eus na skuell na loa, na danvez d'ober bara
Na danvez d'ober bara ge, na danvez d'ober bara
- Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ni 'ray 'vel ar glujar, ni 'gousko war an douar
Ni 'gousko war an douar ge, ni 'gousko war an douar
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Ni ray 'vel ar c'hefeleg, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
Pa sav an heol 'ya da redek ge, pa sav an heol 'ya da redek
Echu eo ma jañson, (tra la la, la di ga dra)
Echu eo ma jañson, an hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
An hini 'oar 'c'hontinui, an hini 'oar 'c'hontinui
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
Hi,
A few realities about Breton music :
"Crested Hen" was composed by Gilles Chabenat, from another French region, Berry (Centre France). There are many other trad musics in France including Caribbean and Amerindian in the West Indies and Guyana.
The "Breton" language has been reinvented from various dialects, and counts very few, if any, native speakers.
The connection between the nazi occupant and the Breton autonomists was a fact during WW2, the Breton flag dates from this period.
The "pure drop" Breton music is quite... austere and requires an acquired taste (biniou and bombarde couple for instance). This is why it is heavily "irish styled" by the local musicians, who, BTW, live mainly off the state through a special statute...
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by bayram
Re: About breton music ...
"...live mainly off the State through a special statute..."
Careful what you tell us, domren, or we'll all come and live there.
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by nicholas
Re: About breton music ...
2 Mix O'Lydian )))
very nice ))) that's ok.
but that lyrics in Breton was not I am loking for))
Look, "Transcription is the conversion into written, typewritten or printed form, of a spoken language source, such as the proceedings of a court hearing.(wikipedia)"
yaouank=[ya-o] ?
That's why I ask how to pronounce Breton words because listening to Alan Stivell (for ex.) - it's difficult to hear everything correct. I've found a Breton prononce rules but it doesn't help also ((
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by severus
Re: About breton music ...
Domren - you said:
"The 'Breton' language has been reinvented from various dialects, and counts very few, if any, native speakers."
"Invented from various dialects"? No, unless you mean that it evolved from Brythonic, brought to the region by Roman-British settlers in the 3rd century. Breton texts exist from the 8th century, and the first French dictionary contained many Breton words. In the mid-19th century, 98% of the population of Brittany were Breton speakers.
"Few, if any, native speakers"? Still about 200,000 - although declining at a rate of about 10,000 per year, as the majority of speakers are over 60.
The language suffers from being the ONLY living Celtic language spoken in western Europe that receives no recognition from a national government.
Would that be your government, by any chance, Domren?
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
Severus - I think that you would probably need to go to Brittany to get any further help on this!
In the meantime, this website may help a little on Breton pronunciation (it has some sound files).
http://www.miejipang-jpn2.net//untitled3.html
Good luck!
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
Domren - one other point.
You said that the Breton flag dated from WW2. That would be 1939-1945.
The Breton Flag was created by Morvan Marchal in 1923.
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
2 very dear Mix O'Lydian ))
Really - your last link is what I need-there are that strange triphtongs ))) -
thanx a lot
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by severus
Re: About breton music ...
Thanks for setting the record straight, Mix O'Lydian. Domren, you obviously don't know what you are talking about. FYI, I happen to be a native speaker of the Breton language (no need for inverted commas) and last time I checked, I had a pulse. You may not like Breton music, and it's perfectly all right, but there is no need to bring up the sore subject of collaboration with the Nazis, which, by the way, involved no more than a few dozen benighted individuals.
# Posted on September 21st 2008 by pennhorse
Re: About breton music ...
What do you call the INCREDIBLY LOUD Breton bagpipe with the very short chanter ?
Am still feeling hearing loss from being in the church at Towersey with one for 20 minutes of playing. The bombard player next to him was wearing earplugs.
The Great Pipes had nothing on this guy.
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: About breton music ...
Probably a biniou kozh:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Brittany#Bagpipes
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by Ramiro
Re: About breton music ...
Severus - gald that my suggested link was of some help. If you have any further questions, you might try sending an email to pennhorse, who is a native Breton speaker.
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
Pennhorse - I thought that your response to Domren was quite polite, considering his insult to your native language!
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: About breton music ...
2 Everyone: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE !!!
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by severus
Re: a few "realities" about breton music ...
The article is pure bullsh*t.
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by uilleann24
Re: About breton music ...
Domren has already been put firmly in his place, and rightly so. But I have to query the statement that in the19th century, 98% of the population of Brittany were Breton speakers. Much of Haute Bretagne hasn't spoken Breton for a long time, but is no less proudly Breton for that.
Saun le galo, poent de Bertaeyn.
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by quinn
Re: About breton music ...
True, quinn, Breton was spoken in Western Brittany by the vast majority of the population until the beginning of the 20th century, whereas Haute-Bretagne spoke Gallo.
# Posted on September 22nd 2008 by pennhorse