Symphonie Celtique

Last updated
Symphonie Celtique
Celtic Symphony
Celtic Symphony by Alan Stivell 1980.jpg
Studio album by
Released1980
Recorded1979
Label CBS, Rounder (CD 1987)
Producer Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell with his "Celtic Symphony" in Lorient in 1980 Symphonie Celtique Stivell Lorient 1980 02.jpg
Alan Stivell with his "Celtic Symphony" in Lorient in 1980

Symphonie Celtique ("Celtic Symphony"), subtitled "Tir na nOg", a folk-rock album by Alan Stivell, originally released as a double LP in 1980 by CBS France, catalogue number CBS 88487. In 1987, it was published by Rounder Records in CD 11523. [1] Digitally remastered and reissued on CD by Disques Dreyfus, catalogue number FDM 36196–2.

Contents

Composed entirely by Stivell, featuring instrumental arrangements by Stivell assisted by Christopher Hayward and Michel Prezman, and with over 70 musicians contributing, this was a large undertaking. As well as embracing the classic Stivell fare of Breton, Scottish and Irish instrumentation, this early nod at world music includes oriental and African sounds as well as a full orchestra and lavish production values. On the original vinyl release, the "three circle" symphonic construction was emphasised in the track listings to a greater extent than with the subsequent CD reissue.

The original double LP was packaged in a gatefold sleeve whose interior featured a still from the Roman Polanski film Tess depicting Stonehenge in the mist.

Reception

Stivell, further back in France, reached a European then global reach. [2] In Italy, class Stivell 52nd best rock musician of all time ("Best Rock Musicians of all times") in the "String / Wind" category. Italian free radio stations broadcast his music, which led him to play in the wake before 11,000 people in Rome and 14,000 in Milan. In Great Britain, Andy Morgan believes that "Stivell's early crative development reached a climax with the staging of his Symphonie Celtique. Is the ultimate expression of everything Stivell felt about his Celtic roots and their place in the wider cultural context." [3]

Track listing

This track listing is as presented on the sleeve of the original LP release; this differs slightly from that of the CD reissue. All music was composed by Alan Stivell.

  1. KELC'H UNAN: First Circle (20:45)
    1. BEAJ d'an Ec'honderiou Diabarzh - voyage to our inner spaces
    2. HIRAEZH d'an Amser dremenet ha da-zoned - nostalgia for the past and the future
      1. "Gwerz 1" and "Loc'h ar Goulenn" - "Song 1" and "Profound lake that I interrogate"
    3. DIVODAN en Holl Veur - dissolution in the Great All
  2. KELC'H DAOU: Second Circle (18:24)
    1. EMSKIANT newez tost d'ar Mann en Eil Bed kenstur - regaining consciousness near the Nothingness in the second parallel world
    2. KENDASKREN Gant an Hollved - vibratory communion with the universe
    3. IMRAM d'an Inisenn - in quest of the Isle
    4. DILESTRAN was Inis gWenva - landing on Blissful Isle, the isle of the Pure World, the third world (or the third life, that of perfection or harmony)
  3. KELC'H TRI: Third Circle (33:15)
    1. AR C'HAMMOU KENTAÑ war an Inisenn - first steps on the Isle
    2. Kawadden AR GEODED SKEDUS: Tir Na Nóg - discovery of the Radiant City
    3. AR BALE TREMA 'R GEODED - the march towards the City
    4. GOUEL HOLLVEDEL - universal festival
    5. AN DISTRO trumm e-barzh ar Bed Keñverel ha Goulenn - sudden return to the relative and interrogative world

Personnel

with additional pipe/Bombard and drum bands, full orchestra, a choir directed by Christiane Legrand, and the Berber female vocal group DjurDjura.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic music</span> Grouping of folk music genres

Celtic music is a broad grouping of music genres that evolved out of the folk music traditions of the Celtic people of Northwestern Europe. It refers to both orally-transmitted traditional music and recorded music and the styles vary considerably to include everything from traditional music to a wide range of hybrids.

Since the early 1970s, Brittany has experienced a tremendous revival of its folk music. Along with flourishing traditional forms such as the bombard-biniou pair and fest-noz ensembles incorporating other additional instruments, it has also branched out into numerous subgenres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Stivell</span> Breton musician (born 1944)

Alan Stivell is a Breton and Celtic musician and singer, songwriter, recording artist, and master of the Celtic harp. From the early 1970s, he revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music. As a bagpiper and bombard player, he modernized traditional Breton music and singing in the Breton language. A precursor of Celtic rock, he is inspired by the union of the Celtic cultures and is a keeper of the Breton culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Ar Braz</span> Breton folk guitarist (born 1949)

Dan Ar Braz is a Breton guitarist-singer-composer and the founder of L'Héritage des Celtes, a 50-piece Pan-Celt band. Leading guitarist in Celtic music, he recorded as a soloist and with Celtic harp player Alan Stivell. He represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996.

<i>Open Road</i> (Donovan album) 1970 studio album by Donovan

Open Road is the eighth studio album, and ninth overall, from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan and the debut album from the short-lived band Open Road. While his previous work was composed by his playing solo on acoustic guitar and then recorded with a shifting cast of session musicians, Open Road was Donovan's effort toward writing and recording music as a member of a band.

Celtic Symphony may refer to

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tír na nÓg (band)</span>

Tír na nÓg are an Irish folk duo formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1969 by Leo O'Kelly and Sonny Condell. They are often considered one of the first progressive folk bands with other artists like Nick Drake or groups like Pentangle. Their music mainly consists of their own compositions, based on strong Celtic roots and typically featuring intricate acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. In their early years, they toured the folk clubs of the United Kingdom or internationally as a support act for several rock bands. Today, they sporadically give concerts, especially in Ireland.

<i>No Guru, No Method, No Teacher</i> 1986 studio album by Van Morrison

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher is the sixteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1986 on Mercury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jef Le Penven</span> French composer (1919–1967)

Jef Le Penven was a French composer, born in Pontivy, Morbihan, Brittany.

<i>Chemins de Terre</i> 1973 studio album by Alan Stivell

Chemins de Terre is a folk rock album by Alan Stivell, originally released in 1973. It was produced by Franck Giboni. It was retitled From Celtic Roots... in the United Kingdom and Celtic Rock in Germany.

<i>Renaissance of the Celtic Harp</i> 1972 studio album by Alan Stivell

Renaissance de la Harpe Celtique or Renaissance of the Celtic Harp is a 1972 record album by the Breton master of the Celtic harp Alan Stivell that revolutionised the connection between traditional folk music, modern rock music and world music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Cardell</span>

Red Cardell is a French, Breton rock band, that mixes Breton music with rock, folk, blues, world music and chanson réaliste.

Loudest Whisper are an Irish folk rock/progressive folk group formed in the early 1970s and led by songwriter and guitarist Brian O'Reilly. They are best known for their 1974 debut album, The Children of Lir, a folk opera based on the Irish legend of the same name. The original LP release of the album became one of the most sought after records in Ireland, and ranks among the top 100 rarest records in the world.

Robbi Finkel is an American-Canadian composer, record producer, pianist and arranger. Grammy nominated, Finkel is an honorary lifetime voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat O'May</span> Musical artist

Pat O'May is a French musician who blends rock music with elements of world music. He originally worked with the heavy metal band Marienthal, and also produced several solo albums. He has written over 100 tracks for the TV show European coast seen from the sky. He participated in Alan Simon's rock operas Anne de Bretagne, Excalibur: The Celtic Rock Opera and started working with Martin Barre touring and recording with him.

<i>À lOlympia</i> (Alan Stivell album) 1972 live album by Alan Stivell

À l'Olympia was Stivell's first live album, recording at L'Olympia. It was released by Fontana in 1972.

Pop-Plinn is a traditional air of a Breton dance transformed into pop music by Alan Stivell. The "Dañs Plinn" is a fast and physical dance where the dancer makes two small jumps by holding the arm of his neighbors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Festival de Cornouaille</span>

The Festival de Cornouaille is an annual festival taking place in Quimper, a city in the south-west of Brittany, a western region of France. The festival begins on the third Sunday of July and lasts for one week. It has been held since 1923 and is one of the biggest cultural events in Brittany.

<i>Again</i> (Alan Stivell album) 1993 studio album by Alan Stivell

Again is the Alan Stivell's seventeenth album released in 1993 under the Keltia III label by Disques Dreyfus and Sony Music in France. He registers again his greatest successes of the seventies with updated arrangements and help of prestigious guests : Kate Bush, Shane MacGowan from the Irish group The Pogues, the Senegal singer Doudou Ndiaye Rose, the French singers Laurent Voulzy and Breton singers Gilles Servat and Yann-Fañch Kemener.

<i>Emerald</i> (Alan Stivell album) 2009 studio album by Alan Stivell

Emerald is the 23rd album by Breton musician Alan Stivell, released in 2009. The album celebrates Stivell's 40-year career since 1970's Reflets (Reflections), his first album as a singer. It's a return to the roots, a return to the violin and to folk-rock, and both an ever innovative approach, playing on electric harp and bagpipes prototypes and in musical arrangements that are as eclectic as they are original.

References

  1. Celtic Symphony - Tir Na Nog on discogs.com
  2. André-Georges Hamon (pref. Glenmor), Chantres de toutes les Bretagnes : 20 ans de chanson bretonne, Paris, Jean Picollec, coll. Biblio Celtique, 1981, p. 465
  3. Anny Maurussane and Gérard Simon, Alan Stivell ou l'itinéraire d'un harper hero, Culture & Celtie, 2006, p. 137