Traditional music
Brittany has developed a culture influenced by the Celtic peoples. Today, we still enjoy the traditional music of the "bagadoù". Inspired by Scottish music groups, the bagad is an orchestra-like formation, playing traditional tunes and accompanying the "circles" (groups of dancers) during fest-noz. The base of the bagad instruments includes the bombard, the biniou and the percussions. The first is a wind instrument of the oboe family. The second, the emblematic biniou or bagpipe, is a fascinating ancient instrument with its air reservoir which is added to the oboe, allowing an uninterrupted play and a polyphonic effect. The musicians who play the bombarde and the biniou are called "sonneurs". Finally, the percussion instruments of the bagad are generally a set of Scottish snare drums.
The bagadoù are honored during popular festivals, markets and of course fest-noz, where people dance in a circle until the end of the night. The bagad is taken seriously in the region, and competitions are organized, such as the national championship of the bagadoù which takes place every year since 1949! It is the Bodadeg ar Sonerion association which is at the initiative of this contest, but also more widely of the formation of the first bagadoù since the end of the years 1940! A part of the championship takes place during the Interceltic Festival of Lorient.
Other instruments are associated with the basic formation of the bagad. The Celtic harp is one of the most attractive, widespread in the high places of the Celtic culture like Galicia in Spain, Ireland, Scotland or Wales. The accordion, clarinet, flute, saxophone, violin and even the guitar complete these traditional orchestras. In addition, many Breton tunes are sung in the Breton language, sometimes with strong lyrics!
It is certain that traditional music still has a bright future in Morbihan. The conservatories of Lorient and Vannes have decided to make it their strength by proposing dedicated pedagogical courses, just like many music schools in the department. It is thus possible to take lessons of Celtic harp, bagpipe or bombard!
Local artists
Morbihan has many artists, some of whom are recognized beyond the borders of Brittany, such as Gilles Servat, Alan Stivell and the group Soldat Louis. Gilles Servat, in love with Morbihan, is at the origin of the Breton popular anthem La Blanche Hermine, which he has been singing since the 1970s! This gold record title defends the Breton identity with fervor, and uses the emblematic animal of the duchy of Brittany, an ermine too proud to dirty its white dress in a mud puddle in front of the threat of death.
Alan Stivell is an outstanding musician who also wants to defend the Breton culture and its language. With his father Georges Cochevelou, musician and artist, he is at the origin of the great return of the Celtic harp in Breton music. But Alan Stivell also performs on the piano, the Irish flute, the bombard, the Scottish bagpipes and the percussions! Talented and true revolutionary of Breton music, he mixes influences with ease, from Gaelic to electro! This humanist and committed musician wears Breton symbols and chants messages of hope, respect and peace between peoples in exceptional musical demonstrations! He is undoubtedly one of the most eminent artists responsible for the deployment of Breton culture in France and beyond!
As for Soldat Louis, this Breton rock band from Lorient became known with the title Du rhum et des femmes in 1988. It is the proof of the perfect association possible between the sounds of the bagad and the rock rhythms of the electric guitar and the drums. The members of Soldat Louis continue to set the country's biggest stages on fire! In 2010, they even composed the new anthem of FC Lorient!
Numerous bagadoù make notable appearances at the national level, such as the bagad de Lann Bihoué, attached to the French navy, which has also played with Soldat Louis in several concerts. The TV show "La France a un Incroyable Talent" has also introduced Bagad Melinerion from Vannes, who won the 2015 edition!
Festivals
Festivals have become an essential part of international popular culture and have an important place in the hearts of the Bretons, specialists in the field since the peasant traditions that gave birth to the first fest-noz. The fest-noz are the occasion for many local music groups to perform and to make the population dance until the end of the night... From there to the famous Festival Interceltique de Lorient, there are only a few dance steps! This giant of Breton festivals takes place over ten days at the beginning of August, and celebrated its fiftieth year in 2021! Several thousand musicians celebrate Celtic music during a hundred shows, as well as many activities highlighting the local culture!
But if you are not available for this event, know that many festivals in all styles of music are organized each year, such as Au pont du Rock in Malestroit, Les Indisciplinées in Lorient, the Medieval Festival of Josselin, Belle Île On Air, Fête du Bruit in Landerneau..
And the dance?
A short word on the traditional Breton dance, which we have mentioned several times... Indeed, the bagadoù rarely go without the driving circles of the "en dro" ("en dro" in the country of Vannes where this dance originates, and "an dro" in the rest of Brittany). The marked rhythms of the Breton music guide the steps from left to right and from right to left, while one holds the little finger of his neighbor... And it starts again! These rounds can welcome dozens of beginners and experienced dancers, for hours! An experience to live absolutely! Otherwise, you will surely have the opportunity to enjoy the show of dancers in traditional clothes, like the Celtic circle of Krollerion Mourieg!
