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I've had my eye on Jonathan Dour, he has been VERY busy playing & teaching violin!
Jonathan started in 'KARMA' at 14 (!), recorded 4 albums. He created 'LIAMM' and experimented with classical Violin & Cello with trad song, album in 2004. 'AODAN' started in 2009, described as, "Breton dance song, classic harmonies, the power of rock and dub, the warmth of traditional violin doubles, and a strand of gypsy madness." The duo, 'Dour/Le Pottier' evolved in the 'DOUR/POTTIER QUARTET' in 2011 - "modal, tribal, classical and improvisation inspiration", 2 albums & lasted 10 years. 'EBEN' started in 2018, 1st album in 2019 with new song lyrics & strings. PLUS, he's recorded for other collaborations.
Jonathan Dour teaches trad Breton Violin at Breizh Music Online - excellent English translation available for the site & video tutorials. There are courses for 7 trad instruments, pay per month for unlimited use. Christian Lemaitre and Pierre Stéphan also teach trad Breton fiddle at Breizh Music.
Breizh Music YT site Playlists
Jonathan Dour Violin Playlist - Breizh Music - he gives a glimpse, a little info on what music he teaches. Great way to get a feel for the music!
Here Jonathan talks about how he learned to play the violin, problems that arose, stuck between trad & classical, how & where he got help, the relationship of violin with song & dance - and what he feels is important teaching Breton music! ...translation to English works very well for this video.
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That lads a good fiddler isn't he. Plays some great stuff.
just been reading through some of the earlier posts on this thread, I never knew a tune had been written about whalley range, I thought it was a joke till I heard it, belting tune though. Whalley range isn't that far from where I live, must say though its not the nicest place you will ever see, lot of Irish lived there at one time, bit of a rough area and rundown. Mind you dirty old town was written about Manchester, well Salford actually.
Back to the topic of this thread, I have been looking for some more of the long slow breton tunes, like the wren or that type if you know of any good ones?
Cant beat a sunny day
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stringy said
That lads a good fiddler isn't he. Plays some great stuff.just been reading through some of the earlier posts on this thread, I never knew a tune had been written about whalley range, I thought it was a joke till I heard it, belting tune though. Whalley range isn't that far from where I live, must say though its not the nicest place you will ever see, lot of Irish lived there at one time, bit of a rough area and rundown. Mind you dirty old town was written about Manchester, well Salford actually.
Back to the topic of this thread, I have been looking for some more of the long slow breton tunes, like the wren or that type if you know of any good ones?
ahh... you must be referring to Farewell To Whally Range?. I dont know where Whally Range is or anything about it. Ived played the tune.and.know it was written by Michael McGoldrick though.
from your description title seems spot on then!
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@stringy -
The Wren is a lovely 'An Dro'. I haven't checked out all of them at The Session, but I know there must be more slow ones listed there, even if they 'say' reel or barndance, etc... these tunes are notorious for generic dance titles!
There is one 'An Dro' I really like, but I had to hear it played before I became interested, because the key has been misidentified. Le Bal D'Erquy (notation at The Session). It's really in Amix & some great piper ornaments can be borrowed from THIS notation at Celtic Scores: Le Bal d’Erquy.
There are several Hanter Dros in 3/2 time at The Session (all same title 🤬) - I really like this one, but you may enjoy one of the others. Hanter Dro (3/2 time)
When 'I' think of slow tunes, it's waltzes. There are some GREAT little Breton waltzes at The Session!
Cad E Sin Don Te Sin (waltz) - I LOVE playing this, but only recently noticed it is also known as "Breton Air"!
The Breton Connection (waltz)
Breton Waltz - pretty fabulous, written by Erwan Hamon - an interesting wooden flute & bombarde musician, has led me to some very interesting Breton music!
NOT the same tune, "Breton Waltz" (AKA Breizh Breeze).
"Son Ar Chistr" is a Breton Folk Song (aka "Ev Chistr ’Ta, Laou") - has been played by the Chieftains, FRAM, many indiviual players! Ev Chistr ’Ta, Laou - notation at The Session.
There is also a collection of Free Sheet Music From Brittany - at the 'Celtic Scores' site!
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Emily I like the breton waltz and I may have a digg at that one but Intend playing it a lot slower, Love the sound of some of these tunes from that particular area, they have a different feel I think, if you know what I mean.
Abitrusty, yes it is whalley range I looked it up, like I said I am fairly stunned, but as I also said some great music came from manchester and Salford, it's not exactly farewell to Erin, but a location somewhere doesn't have to be beautiful to write a song about it, after all Ewan Mac coll taught luke Kelly in Salford so it can't be all bad, sums it up the words of dirty old town, " I left my love by the gas works wall", and one of my all time faves travelling people wrote in Manc as well. 
Cant beat a sunny day
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I don't want to keep off topic, but have you guys heard the "Slipset" by RÚNAÍ? It ends in 'Farewell to Whalley Range' - a GREAT set!
Oops, I forgot to add a link to notation for the Lunasa video, in post #19 (and I edit posts too much)!
"Jacky Molard’s" (aka "Breton Gavotte")
Jacky Molard is a pretty fabulous trad Breton Fiddler/multi-instrumentalist & Composer, but has done some really adventerous music with his Quartet and Quartet ENTRE LES TERRES. Also music as a Trio with his brother, Patrick, who's a well known Breton Piper!
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A couple more beautiful, slower Breton tunes - with links to printable notation & midi!
"Gwerz Ar Vezhinerien" - from the 'Rendezvous' album, the last recording with Johnny Cunningham, along with Kevin Burke & Christian Lemaitre.
...a beautiful lament!
"Kerreg Beg An Treiz" - maybe considered a lament also, but I don't really see the terms 'lament' or 'air' thrown around Breton tunes, so I'll keep an eye out. It's played here by Archétype.
So, a 'gwerz' is a lament, or gloomy ballad... guess it holds true for instrumentals, too. I'm having a bit of an issue searching for things - googly doesn't translate Breton!
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