Customer Reviews

Kerden

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What an excellent album! A stringed instrument in the hands of an accomplished Breton can stir the soul of even the most jaded Celtic music aficionado. Here are sixteen extraordinary recordings by guitar, bouzouki and bass players from Brittany. In recent years there has been a successful revival of the traditional music of this province in the northwest of France. Its strong Celtic melody and rhythm sets the music on fire.

The album opens with Jacky Molard performing his own lively composition "KUDEL", a frenetic, whirling jig in which the rhythm is entirely supplied by the guitar. Molard is also well known as a violinist who successfully developed a violin style that is adapted to the traditional music of Brittany. But just listen to his guitar playing and fine composition skills here.

There is a devastatingly beautiful piece on Track 7 that is executed on a fretless guitar by its composer, Gilles Le Bigot - "PEDENN" (La Prière). His accuracy without the benefit of frets is amazing. This is a breathtaking work, a musical poem of deep introspection and reverie.

Our attention never wavered even one second from the first to last notes of this album, even though we had never heard the Cordes de Bretagne before - actually, never really knew much about the music and culture of Brittany. Just grateful that this fine, dedicated group is in the foreground of world music. The players are also the composers and/or arrangers. We thought everyone would like to know who the performers are on this album, so we have included that information here for you, along with the titles and timings. ENJOY!
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ARTISTS, TITLES AND TIMINGS:
1. Jacky Molard: KUDEL (3:24)
2. Pat O'may: TY MOON (4:44)
3. Nicolas Quéméner: TAKE SIX (3:21)
4. Alain Genty: MELEN AOUR (4:47)
5. Jacques Pellen: BOBINE (4:30)
6. Franck Le Bloas: AR MORAER (2:40)
7. Gilles Le Bigot: PEDENN (La Prière) (3:33)
8. Roland Conq: MARCHE DARDOUP/GAVOTTE POURLET (3:39)
9. Dan Ar Braz (With Didier Squiban): JENOVEFA (4:27)
10. Soïg Siberil: DRE AR WENOJENN (3:56)
11. Tangi Le Doré: UGIA, UHELLOU GLAZ IN APRIL (4:29)
12. P.S.G. (Pellen-Siberil-Guichen): EN AVANT! (4:33)
13. Alain Léon: AR PLAC'H NANKET (3:34)
14. Jamie McMenemy: MARGOT MARIA (2:50)
15. Jean-Charles Guichen: GARZOLES (2:55)
16. Yvon Riou: DEUS EN-DRO D'AR GER (2:59)