FEST-NOZ CADOUDAL
Document
Arion, 1975, ARN 33314
As you certainly know, fest noz means ''night party'' in Breton but this translation doesn't give the real meaning of what it is really. Originally, peasants in different parts of Brittany used to get workers from the area in order to carry out big works like harvesting as quickly as possible. That could last for a few days or more depending on the size of the fields. Once the day's work done the head of the farm organised a kind of party for the workers and his own family with singing, dancing, games etc.. until late. All this disappeared after World War II with the mechanization of agriculture. But one man Loeiz Roparz (himself the son of farmers and traditional singing lover)) had the idea of setting up another kind of feast for local people in Central Brittany around 1955. Same dancing, story telling etc... but not linked anymore to the farm. It was so well recieved that very soon evenings were held in city halls or outside with paid singers and musicians (sonneurs) and the public had to pay a fee.
Here this fest-noz was held in the memory of Etienne Rivoallan a bombard player and teacher who died in a car accident in January 1961 at the age of 29. The recordings were made live on the 25th of November 1961 at Maël-Carhaix. Many traditional singers and only 3 couples of ''sonneurs'' were invited to this tribute to Rivoallan whose work to promote Breton culture and music was very important at that time before the revival of the 70s.
Great singers like the Morvan brothers, the Goadec sisters, Greunel and Bolloré shared the stage with other local singers from different parts of Brittany. The musicians were Daniel Phlippe, Pierre Guillou, Yann Péron. Was also present Georges Cadoudal who was Rivoallan's partner on the highland bagpipe called biniou braz in Brittany. Hence the title of this album I suppose. Dance tunes and songs alternate with songs to listen to (like track B 3 with a Bigouden lullaby).
Text in French.
