Recorded harp music can be a dodgy thing by any standard, particularly of music pertaining to "The Celtic Traditions" because, although the image of the harp has endured through turbulent times, the music has not. In Ireland it was on it's last legs by the end of the 1700's but it's demise began with the collapse of the Gaelic order and the subsequent redundancies of the itinerant harpers. It lingered on in Wales in some fashion but had completely disappeared from Brittany after the Middle Ages. A more complex form of the instrument has taken over public popularity with the concert harp, ensuring a permanent place in the classical orchestras of Europe. The last 20-30 years has seen a huge resurgence in the harp music of ancient times, a movement kick started by Alan Stivell, but firmly put in place by younger players grounded in their traditions. A dubious by-product has been the rise of the"Celtic Harp," basically an excuse to get dressed up in fluffy gear and play any auld dross at Renaissance Fayres.

With that in mind it was with some trepidation that I approached this work from Dominig Bouchaud, a classically trained harper from Nantes digging around in the music traditions of Brittany (Breizh). A brief flick through the liner notes reveals the use of French, English and Breizh languages, which is very commendable. A closer look shows up some flaws in research eg. Maurice Lennon is an Irish fiddler as opposed to Cape Breton and the Cape Breton Set is actually Irish in origin which is not so commendable. But on to the music….

Some of the opening tracks were extremely difficult to get through and I was reluctant to carry on but I persevered -- and I'm glad I did. Largely a series of adaptations of traditional Breton melodies, the music tends to stray occasionally from the essence of the tradition becoming more French interpretive than anything else. But by track four Mr. Bouchard is more relaxed and the music flows comfortably.

There are 20 pieces all up, all of them delivered with an almost meditative style, but with stellar technique and deadly accuracy in rhythm and attack. Christian Faucher deserves mention for his bombard playing, not an easy instrument to listen to but well tackled here. The approach is more medieval in style than many of the other Breton bands touting their wares these days, so the music may come as a surprise to Breton fans (for those that have been to a fez-nos in the fish market at the Lorient festival) but none the less it is very well played. For those unfamiliar with old Breton music this CD would come as a great introduction piece.

[Pat Simmonds]

 

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