Music

Unusual Celtic sounds

With its lilting rhythms and piercing cries, Breton music is as distinctive as anything else in the region. The biniou, or Breton bagpipes, and the bombarde, the Breton oboe, are the two most iconic instruments in any Breton band, although the harp, accordion, violin and drums can also play major parts. After a lull in the early 20th century, Breton music took off again post-war.

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Deep musical roots 

Breton coastal communities developed strong musical traditions through time. In societies torn apart by separation and exceptionally frequent loss at sea, powerful emotions were often expressed in stirring sea shanties. Music scholars say that in southern English, despite the antagonism with Brittany down the centuries, folk songs were greatly influenced by Breton music. Paimpol is the port most renowned for keeping up the traditional shanties, although many other places stage events.

Modern Bards and bagadou 

Breton musicians inspired a new wave of enthusiasm for Breton sounds after the war. The Gouedec sisters and Morvan brothers brought traditional music back into vogue and the likes of Alain Stivell, Dan Ar Braz, Gilles Servat and Tri Yann developed it. Other significant players to have emerged include Yann-Fanch Kemener, Miossec, Denez Prigent, Didier Squiban and Yann Tiersen. At the many Celtic festivals now held across Brittany, large crowds hear the Breton bands, the bagadou, compete against each other. Hundreds of such groups are keeping Breton music alive, but also developing a new repertoire.

Contemporary scenes 

Studenty Rennes has an extremely vibrant contemporary music scene, with several cutting-edge venues. Brest too has a funky reputation, with a startling new concert hall, while summer waterside events attract crowds. The little central Finistère town of Carhaix is known across France for its rock festival, Les Vieilles Charrues, and encourages new young talent.

Did you know ?

Dan Ar Braz represented France at Eurovision in 1996 and sang in Breton.