Gwerz
Gwerz (plural: gwerzioù ) refers to a ballad or lament in Breton music . Gwerzioù are mostly written in the Breton language and deal with historical or mythological topics, mostly of a tragic or melancholy character.
The melodies of the gwerzioù are often kept simple, so that the artistic quality largely depends on the personality and musicality of the singer. He usually performs the singing in a free rhythm that leaves room for improvisation.
The most famous performers of Breton gwerzioù are Erik Marchand , who was also the head of the style-forming folk group Gwerz in the 1980s and 1990s , and Yann-Fañch Kemener . The most famous name from the younger generation of Breton singers is Denez Prigent . All three performers are characterized by their free singing in a very high, actually female voice. A speculative explanation for the widespread use of this style in Brittany is that Gwerzioù was saved from the folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s mainly by older women, whose singing style was imitated by the male singers. This theory is supported by the existence of corresponding field recordings from the first half of the 20th century .