Érik Marchand (born 1955) is a Breton traditional singer and player of the

treujenn-gaol The treujenn-gaol (Breton: ''cabbage stalk'') is the Breton term for the clarinet as used in Breton music. The term 'treujenn gaol' was originally a pejorative term invented by bombard players who found the newer instrument encroaching on their l ...

(Breton clarinet). Although born in Paris, his family was of

Breton Breton most often refers to: *anything associated with Brittany, and generally ** Breton people ** Breton language, a Southwestern Brittonic Celtic language of the Indo-European language family, spoken in Brittany ** Breton (horse), a breed **Ga ...

origin, hailing from

Quelneuc Quelneuc () is a former commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the commune Carentoir.Brittany. Influenced by the music of

Manuel Kerjean Manuel may refer to: People * Manuel (name) * Manuel (Fawlty Towers), a fictional character from the sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'' * Charlie Manuel Charles Fuqua Manuel Jr. (born January 4, 1944), is an American former professional baseball playe ...

, Marchand moved to his family's homeland and studied traditional music and the

Breton language Breton (, ; or in Morbihan) is a Southwestern Brittonic language of the Celtic language family spoken in Brittany, part of modern-day France. It is the only Celtic language still widely in use on the European mainland, albeit as a member of t ...

. He became deeply involved with traditional Breton singing, including the ''

gwerz Gwerz (, "ballad", "lament", plural ''gwerzioù'') is a type of folk song of Brittany. In Breton music, the ''gwerz'' tells a story which can be epic, historical, or mythological. The stories are usually of a tragic nature. The gwerz is characte ...

'', a traditional lament. In the 1980s he helped form a traditional music group called which released three albums. In the 1980s Marchand also began to collaborate with oudist

Thierry Robin Thierry "Titi" Robin (born 26 August 1957 in Rochefort-sur-Loire) is a French composer and improviser. His style combines Mediterranean world including Romani, Oriental and European cultures. He plays guitar, buzuq, mandolin and ’oud. Biog ...

, producing a fusion of Celtic and Arabic motifs influenced by jazz.

Discography

*1982 : Chants à danser de Haute-Bretagne'', with Gilbert Bourdin ha Christian Dautel, Dastum *1985 : '' Gwerz, nouvelle musique de Bretagne'', Dastum/Gwerz *1985 : '' Chants à répondre de Haute-Bretagne'', with Gilbert Bourdin and Christian Dautel, Le Chasse-Marée *1988 : Gwerz : '' Au-delà'', Escalibur. Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1988 *1989 : '' Gwerz Penmarc’h , with Cabestan, Le Chasse-Marée *1990 : '' An henchoù treuz, chants du Centre-Bretagne'', gant Thierry Robin, AMTA/Ocora, Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1990 *1991 : Trio Erik Marchand : '' An tri Breur'', Silex, ffff Télérama *1991 : ''Musique têtue'' gant le Quintet de Clarinettes, Silex, ffff Télérama *1993 : '' Gwerz live'', Gwerz Pladenn *1993 : '' Bazh du '' with le Quintet de Clarinettes, Silex. Diapason d’Or *1993 : Erik Marchand et le Taraf de Caransebes : '' Sag an tan ell'', Silex. Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1995 ha ffff Télérama *1997 : Fresu, Pellen, Marchand trio : '' Condaghes'', Silex, Choc de la Musique *1998 : Erik Marchand et le Taraf de Caransebes : '' Dor'', BMG, ffff Télérama, Choc de la Musique, R 10 de Répertoires *2001 : '' Kan'', gant l’ensemble de Mallakaster d’Albanie, Le Tenore de Santu Predu (Sardaigne), Fransy Gonzales-Calvo (Galice) ha Bassey Koné (Mali), fff Télérama *2003 : '' La Route de la Rose'', Attitudes *2003 : '' Le Requiem d’Anna Ac’hmatova '' *2003 Ephéméra Jacques Pellen Naïve *2004 PRUNA Erik Marchand et les Balkaniks Harmonia Mundi 2741260 *2013 Ukronia

Decorations

Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and letters, Arts and Letters) is an Order (distinction), order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Ministry of Culture (France), Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the w ...

(2016)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marchand, Erik 1955 births Living people Musicians from Paris Breton musicians Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Breton-language singers