Nedelag: Christmas in Brittany

• Main performer: Yann-Fanch Kemener
• Booklet languages: French, English
• Libretto languages: Breton, French, English
• Time: 49:14
• Release Date: 2008

Review

Singer Yann-Fanch Kemener has devoted much of his career to preserving the musical traditions of Brittany, the peninsula that constitutes the westernmost corner of France. The songs, carols, and stories he presents on this album of Christmas music, mostly in the Breton language, but some in French, represent a broad range of Breton musical cultures that are closely related to Celtic cultures. Some of the songs have a folk-like simplicity, distinctive melody, and clear strophic structure, while others have the archaic quality of Medieval music. The album ends with an extended retelling of an ancient Nativity narrative with musical underscoring, recited first in French, and then in Breton. Kemener's weathered, idiosyncratic voice ideally suits this repertoire. He's joined on most tracks by his frequent collaborator, cellist and gamba player Aldo Ripoche, and on others by a vocal ensemble and a group of Renaissance and folk instruments. The music is beautifully realized by the ensemble, and there is a wonderful variety of moods and instrumental textures on the various tracks. The sound is clear and very present, and even though the album was recorded in one location, a stone chapel in Brittany, the ambience varies significantly from track to track. The CD should be of strong interest to fans of authentic performances of folk music from off the beaten path, and for listeners looking for an album of music for Christmas that's entirely different from the standard fare. ~ Stephen Eddins, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Christmas Traditional	Misterious Joeius (Les mystères joyeux), carol (Breton)	2:58
Christmas Traditional	An añjelus (L'angélus), carol (Breton)	2:37
Christmas Traditional	Kantik spirituel war ar c'hinivelezh eus a Jezuz salver ar bed (Cantique sur la naissance de Jésus sauveur du monde), carol (Breton)	3:28
Christmas Traditional	Diskennit euz an nenvou (Descendez du ciel, esprits bienheureux), carol (Breton)	3:59
Christmas Traditional	Pe trouz war an douar? (Quel est ce bruit sur la terre?), carol (Breton)	2:40
Christmas Traditional	Ar vugelion (Les bergers), carol (Breton)	0:42
Christmas Traditional	Kanamp Nouel da Roe an aelez (Chantons Noël au Roi des anges), carol (Breton)	2:55
Christmas Traditional	Nouel añjelik (Le noël angélique), carol (Breton)	2:48
Christmas Traditional	Jezus krouedur (Enfant Jésus), carol (Breton)	2:54
Christmas Traditional	Kanamp Noel - Noelenn Brec'hed (Chantons Noël - Noël de Brigitte), carol (Breton)	2:39
Christmas Traditional	Petra zo henoazh a-nevez (Qu'y a-t-il de neuf ce soir?), carol (Breton)	1:56
Christmas Traditional	Cantilene à Notre Dame, carol (French)	2:57
Christmas Traditional	An tri Roue (Les Rois mages), carol (Breton)	1:39
Christmas Traditional	Veillée de Noël, recitation with music (French)	7:51
Spoken Word	Noz a Nedeleg, recitation with music (Breton)	7:11

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