Everything starts with a journey. In space, between the strings of the harp, the fingers move through a moment of infinite. Alchemy continuosly renewed since the dawn of time, music links the visible to the in visible world and the harp remains a favourite instrument of this connection. Mastering its technique is a never-ending search for the gesture that opens the world to rain, to the splitting of the stone and to the flowering of plants

Tune Notes

En Tu-all
The Other side (composition)
The string plucked, the harp begins to resonate. Harmonic melody in prologue form, En Tu-all opens the doors of this other world, where space is never-ending and time is over but where, sometimes, some vibrations come back.

Mab a c’hloc’her a vorc’h Melrand
The Melrand bellringer’s son (traditional Breton tune)
This song comes from the area of Baud and was collected by Loeiz Herrieu in his book “Popular songs of the country of Vannes”. The subject is Isidore Le Devéhat who resisted to military conscription and was a fierce opponent of King Louis-Philippe’s police officers.

Gavotenn
Breton dance: (traditional / cormposition / third dance is adapted from a traditional tune)
Set of three gavottes. The third one is adapted from a tune collected by Polig Monjarret in his book “Tonioù Breizh Izel”, vol. 2.

Laridenn nevez
New laridé (composition)
The name “Laridé”, attributed to a dance from the country of Vannes, is also used as a generic term for tunes whose rhythms are significantly different from each other. Laridenn Nevez is inspired by this idea.

Un Tammig em eus kalon diaes
My Heart is ill at ease (traditional Breton tune)
A Melody in march form, collected by Loeiz Herrieu. “A little bit, a little bit, my heart is ill at ease / I heard that my fianée got married! / If this is true, as I heard it said / Before night, tonight, I will go to know”.

Hanter-dro (traditional Breton dance)
Set of two traditional hanter-dro, a dance from the Vannes area. I learnt the second tune from the playing of the band Storvan.

Eléanor Plunkett By Turlough O’Carolan
A famous tune by the Irish harper and composer. Travelling the country, O’Carolan composed many tunes in honour of those who gave him hospitality. His repertoire is now the harpers’ legacy.

March of the King of Laois (traditional Irish march)
An lrish traditional march I heard played by the great Irish harper Paul Dooley.

Ne Chomin ket da soñjal
I won’t stay dreaming (traditional Breton tune)
A tune from the Pourlet region. “If I come back one day on earth / and I will surely / I won’t stay dreaming, dreaming, dreaming / I won’t stay dreaming like people around me”.

Kost ar c’hoed (traditional Breton dance)
Two dance tunes “Kost ar c’hoed” (“close to the wood”). This dance is part of the gavotte family, originating from near the Quénécan forest.

Dait-c’hwi ganin plac’hig yaouank
Young girl, come with me (traditional Breton tune)
This melody is sung in my family, which is native to the Lands of Baud. It is a young man’s love song to his lady: “Young girl, come with me / come with me to the garden / come with me to the garden / And you will see white roses on the branches growing”.

Many thanks to:
Johann  Guillon.  Gaetan  Duval,  Meriadeg  Herrieu, Cheyenne Brown, Karen Marshalsay, Daibhidh Grannd, John Burns for help and support.

“Dasson ur galon": “A Heart’s Echo": from the title of the book by Loeiz Herrieu. Thanks to the family and Mériadeg Herrieu for their permission.