ARTIST: Alan Stivell
TITLE: E Langonned
LABEL:
GENRE: Folk/Rock
SOURCE: CD
BITRATE: 166 kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 37:11
RELEASE DATE: 1994-08-30
RIP DATE: 2008-10-03
Track List
----------
1. E Parrez Langonned 3:41
2. Gavotenn Pourled 1:52
3. Planedenn 3:01
4. Ne Bado Ket Atao 1:53
5. Bwthyn Fy Nain (La Ferme De Ma 1:27
Grand-Mere)
6. Ffarwel I Aberystwyth (Au 2:16
Revoir Aberystwyth)
7. Briste Leathair Pheadair - 1:56
Mairseal A' Chearc
8. Dans Fisel 2:28
9. Gavotenn Ar Manez (Gavotte Des 1:17
Montagnes)
10. An Sagart Cheolnhar 2:46
11. Bal Fisel 3:53
12. Deus Ganin Me D'am Bro 1:33
13. Jenovefa 2:41
14. Sagart O Donaill 2:28
15. Diougan Gwenc'hlan 2:20
16. Ar Voraerion 1:39
Release Notes:
CD Reissue of the 1974 album.
Even before Alan's father put together the Telenn GentΓn, which started
everything off, Alan already enjoyed reading Science-Fiction magazines.
Along with his ideas of a classical celtic music Alan also had the idea of
modern pop music groups, an idea shared by Pierre-Yves Moign who created
Son-Ha-Kroll (like the group Evit Koroll)) (in actual fact- they were more dance
orchestras inspired by the Ceilidh-bands)
In 1957/1958 Alan heard for the first time electric guitars on the radio.
At the end of the 1950's he had the idea of forming a breton rock group, playing
modern popular music, an idea which was reinforced by his discovery of the
"Shadows".
The Beatles period reinforced even more his idea of a Breton pop music group.
In 1964 the construction of a harp with metal strings (bardic harp) allowed Alan
to put his ideas into action. The electric harp(solid body) being not yet
constructed , Alan electrified his own harp as best as he could and started
playing it with his friends in the "Bleimor".
English pop music (Donovan, the Beatles etc) were playing more and more with
ethnic or ancient instruments.
Alan was doing exactly the same. The evolution of music was on a par with his
own ideas. Now , it just needed somebody to show the public that the 'Bretons'
were equally as good as the 'Britons'.A different kettle of fish entirely.
After signing up with Philips Fontana in 1967 Alan was able to start putting
together his own ideas. He introduced the electric guitar and keyboards onto his
album "Reflet in 1970.
Celtic pop or Breton rock manifested itself in 1971 with the single "Pop Plinn"
which Alan produced,played and arranged.( introduction on the guitar and hammond
organ, plin dances on guitar , bass, drums ,bombardes, celtic harp). This piece
of music, followed by alan's appearance at Olympia started off a revolution
which changed the course of Breton history. For this recording and also for the
stage appearance Alan called on the expert fingering of Dan Ar Bras.
At the same time Alan was saddened and continues to regret that other Breton
musicians (apart from bagadou and traditional breton musicians) haven't taken
into account the study of celtic and breton music (also the study of Breton
culture in general) and hopes that in the future they will do so. The musicians
that Alan had gathered around himself in the first half of the 70's didn't
depart from this idea. The coherence that he gave to this mixture of eccentric
personalities (Dan, Werner, Gabriel Yacoub) had the efficacity and look of a
real pop or rock group.
From the end of the 1960's Alan was recognised as belonging to the French and
British rock scene. He was applauded by tens of thousands of people each time he
appeard whether it be at Reading (GB) , Roskilde (Denmark) or in France together
with groups such as Magma, in London in 1968 for example he was asked to play by
the Moody Blues.
He had managed to escape his 'folky' image which like a ball and chain all
bretons were lumbered with.
Not all of Alan's music is rock however, he continues to like calm music, slower
musical arrangements of traditional themes, closer to his roots, both through
taste and also from teaching methods, he has always shared his knowledge and
advised others on how to proceed without trying to use shortcuts.
Nevertheless, it is his fusion of celtic rock which represents his work the
most.
His mainly rock albums are Olympia-live, Chemins de Terre, Live in Dublin, Raok
dilestra/Before Landing, Terre des vivants, Again, Brian Boru, Back to Breizh.
www.alan-stivell.com