Fest-noz
Fest-noz ( fest = Breton for "social gathering with play and dance" / noz = Breton for "night"; plural Festoù-Noz ) is the name for popular dance events with dances from Brittany , which usually take place in the evening or at night. The term was coined by Loeiz Ropars .
Fest-noz has been on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since December 2012 .
history
A gathering "fest noz" existed only in the rural tradition of the Haute- Cornouaille region ( Carhaix , Huelgoat , Châteauneuf-du-Faou , Pleyben ), which differed in its style from today's dance gatherings (in Breton, festival originally means "gouel" ). The Breton "festival" means "gathering, community, solidarity, fun": The joy of being together after working together (sometimes on the farm itself), including at a wedding, while singing, dancing and playing competitions. The accompaniment to the dance was singing together (or two singers in the circle of dancers in alternating song) without instruments. This “gathering” in the old tradition was still alive until the end of the 1920s, in Maël Carhaix , Rostrenen even until 1935, then disappeared at the end of the 30s. The "festival" was just a memory, but alive with P. Huiban, R. Le Béon and Ropars themselves, who as young animators wanted to revive the Breton culture of their region and gave it validity in various actions. On October 30, 1955, a dance meeting in the “new style” under the title “fest noz” took place for the first time. Since 1957 (as part of the Festival de Cornouaille) the title “fest noz” has prevailed for the Breton dance revival. A fest noz also takes place at the Festival Interceltique in Lorient . Loeiz Ropars comes from Poullaouen (Brittany) and through his work has significantly influenced the revival of Breton dances and language.
The term Bal Folk is common in German-speaking countries . Fest-deizh, which is held during the day, is rarer than the Fest-noz.
The dances
The peculiarity of the Breton dance culture in comparison to the linguistically related Celtic areas ( Scotland , Ireland , Wales ) as well as in a Western European comparison as a whole is related to the dance type of row and chain dances: dances of this type are otherwise in Western Europe, unlike in Southeastern Europe , very rare (has become), they are very popular at dance festivals: at the Festoù-Noz, these dances can be danced by up to over a thousand participants, which can develop a special dynamic, as the Breton dances also have no emphasis on dance figures ( like the contra dances ), but on step combinations that are rhythmic. The more dancers, the more exciting this rhythmic accent is. The row form (i.e. dance neighbors close together) supports this.
Depending on the region and music group, a selection of the Breton dance repertoire is danced. Some well-known Breton dances are called:
- An-dro
- Hanter-dro
- Dañs Plin
- various gavottes (such as Dañs Fisel, Gavotte de Montagne and Kost ar c'hoat)
- Suite de Loudéac
- Rond de St-Vincent
- La Ridée 6-temps / Laridé 8-temps
- Kas a-barh
- Maraîchine
Couple dances such as waltz , mazurka , polka or Scottish are danced less or not at all at Fest-Noz.
The music
The music that can be heard at Fest-Noz is divided into two types:
- vocal
- Dance melodies are sung in the form of an alternating song ( Kan ha diskan in the manner of call & response ), in which either a pair of singers (or a lead singer with the group) take turns singing. The texts can be in Breton or French. Since the Kan ha diskan was mainly cultivated in the center of western Brittany, a region where the Breton language was most strongly preserved, until the beginning of the 20th century, many texts are in Breton. Today the singing can also be heard in French while dancing.
- Instrumental
- The traditional instrumentation in some regions is a duo of the Breton shawm ( bombarde ) and the Breton bagpipes Binioù Kozh ("old bagpipes" = bagpipes of the old style). Both instruments have the property of being very loud and penetrating and can therefore be used well without electrical amplification for sound reinforcement outdoors and for medium-sized dance companies. Both instruments play the mostly traditionally handed down titles in the style of Kan ha diskan, with the bombarde taking on the role of lead singer.
Another possibility is the combination of violin and accordion , which was used in other regions during the 19th century.
The interplay between the singers and instruments is a characteristic feature that contributes to the dynamics of the pieces and also allows the musicians regular short breaks (especially when playing the Bombarde).
development
Since the folk revival of the 1970s, the Festoù-Noz have been popular everywhere in and outside Brittany. Every year, thousands of dance enthusiasts take part in festivals, such as a few years ago in the Breton village of Kerlouan (north coast).
Fest-Noz music was further developed during this time. Not only influences from rock, jazz and pop music were recorded, but also world music influences from the Arab region, the Balkans , Africa and South America have integrated themselves into the Fest-Noz music. In Germany there is also the possibility to dance Breton (e.g. in folk clubs ) and to the concerts of some German live bands such as An Erminig .
Well-known names in Fest Noz music include Skolvan , Carré Manchot , Karma , Bleizi Ruz , Kornog , Ar Re Yaouank , Hamon-Martin Quintett , Sonerien Du and Loened Fall .
literature
- Jean-Michel Guilcher: La tradition popular de danse en Basse-Bretagne. Nouvelle édition, augmentée d'illustrations et d'un avant-propos. Coop-Breizh et al., Spézet et al. 1995, ISBN 2-903708-59-2 .
- Yves Guilcher: La danse traditionnelle en France. D'une ancienne civilization paysanne à un loisir revivaliste. FAMDT édition, Saint-Jouin-de-Milly 1998, ISBN 2-910432-17-3 .
- Corina Oosterveen : 40 Breton dances. With their cultural background. Publishing house of the minstrels Hofmann & Co. KG, Brensbach 1995, ISBN 3-927240-32-X (There is also a CD accompanying the La Marmotte group : Nous les ferons danser. ).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ UNESCO Intangible Heritage Lists: Representative List , RL = 00707 , English, accessed on December 13, 2012.