If you’re used to associating Celtic music with the cultures of Scotland, Ireland, or Wales, the program on this fascinating disc reminds us that Celtic also means Brittany and the Breton language and people. After a brief solo introduction by a clear-voiced soprano, the lone melody delicately ornamented in familiar folklike style, she’s suddenly joined by a large force of voices and organ–what sounds more like a congregation singing a hymn on Sunday morning. Then enters a flute with a wandering obbligato against softly droning bagpipes. And the language? It’s authentic Breton–and the texts are thoughtfully included along with English translations. The music is traditional songs and hymns from this unique and often overlooked region of France (there also are a few adapted Welsh and Cornish tunes), but it’s hard to describe these arrangements, except, as above, to indicate that each selection is a wonderful blend of old and new sounds, traditional harmony spiced with more modern effects. For instance, the third piece, simply titled Nedeleg (Christmas) begins with a chorus singing quietly beautiful chords–a flute joins in, and next a guitar takes up the accompaniment while two female voices take over the singing. And so the song goes, alternating between chorus and duet, flute and guitar. (And you haven’t heard anything until you hear this fine, enthusiastic choir sing words such as “c’hraou” and “‘n traou”!)
The older tunes have a strange way of sounding just familiar enough to make you wonder about their origins–and if some of today’s more popular Christmas songs actually came from these. But there’s no doubt about their inherent charm and beauty and irresistibility. And the chorus–a very large one, judging by the sound and by the photo in the liner booklet–obviously loves singing these arrangements (many of which are by the choir’s former director René Abjean) and several original modern compositions. The themes, of course, are about Christmas in the most traditional sense–Misteriou joaius (Joyful mysteries); Pa voe ganet (When He was born); War ar menez ar bastored (Shepherds on the hill); An Elez a gane (The angels sang). Two instrumental selections add variety, from the organ/bagpipe Pe trouz war an douar? (What noise on earth?) to the disc’s final piece, Nedeleg war ar mor (Christmas at sea), written by the choir’s current director, Christian Desbordes, featuring a whole array of instruments. Unfortunately the sound lacks detail, especially in the chorus, so we get a kind of squishy blend instead of sharply focused, distinctly reproduced instruments and voices. It’s great fun, though, hearing this unusual yet inviting music, and it should add at least a few happy hours to your own seasonal celebrations.
