An Alarc'h
"An Alarc'h" ("The Swan") is a Breton traditional song. It is found in the 1839 collection Barzaz Breiz.[1] It tells of the return from exile in England of the Breton prince Jean de Montfort (known as "The Swan of Montfort")[2] and his defeat of the French army under Bertrand du Guesclin in 1379.[3] It has been recorded by, amongst others, Alan Stivell and Gilles Servat.[4]
The Scottish folk song "The Twa Corbies", a variation of the English song "The Three Ravens", was set to the tune of "An Alarc'h" by R.M. Blythman.[5]
Lyrics
(From the Barzaz Breiz of 1839)
Eunn alarc'h, eunn alarc'h tre-mor (×2)
War lein tour moal kastell Armor!
Dinn, dinn, daon! dann emgann! dann emgann!
Oh! Dinn, dinn, daon! d'ann emgann a eann!
Neventi vad d'ar Vretoned!
Ha malloz-ru d'ar C'hallaoued!
Dinn, dinn, daon! d'ann emgann! d'ann emgann! etc.
Erru eul lestr, e pleg ar mor,
He weliou gwenn gant han digor;
Digouet ann otrou Iann endro,
Digouet eo da ziwall he vro;
D'hon diwall doc'h ar C'hallaoued,
A vac'hom war ar Vretoned.
Ken e losker eur iouaden,
A ra d'an od eur grenaden;
Ken a zon ar meneiou Laz;
Ha froen, ha drid ar gazek c'hlas;
Ken a gan laouen ar c'hleier,
Kant leo tro-war-dro, e peb ker.
Deut e ann heol, deut e ann han;
Deut e endro ann otrou Iann!
Recordings
- À l'Olympia, Alan Stivell (1972, Fontana, 6399 005)
- Je Ne Hurlerai Pas Avec Les Loups, Gilles Servat (1983, Kalondour, 814 362-1)
- Tri Yann an Naoned, Tri Yann (1972, Kelenn, 6332 626)
- Hanternoz, (August 2013)
- Molène, Didier Squiban (1997, L'Oz Production – L'OZ 17)
References
- ^ Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué, Barzaz Breiz. Franck, 1846, p. 380.
- ^ Yann Brékilien, La Bretagne d'hier et de demain. J. P. Delarge, 1978. ISBN 2711301087, p. 118
- ^ André-Georges Hamon, Chantres de toutes les Bretagnes: 20 ans de chanson bretonne. J. Picollec, 1981. ISBN 2864770342, p. 49
- ^ Françoise Morvan, Le monde comme si: nationalisme et dérive identitaire en Bretagne. Actes Sud, 2002. ISBN 2742739858, p. 173
- ^ "Twa Corbies / Two Ravens". Mainly Norfolk. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
