Bro Gozh ma Zadoù
Encyclopedia
Bro Gozh ma Zadoù is the national anthem
of Brittany
. It is sung to the same tune as that of the national anthem of Wales
, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
, and has similar words. The Cornish
anthem, Bro Goth Agan Tasow
, is also sung to the same tune.
The Breton lyrics are the creation of François Jaffrennou
in 1897, and the music was that composed by the Welsh James James
for Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. The new song was first published in 1898, and circulated as Henvelidigez ("Adaptation"). It was chosen as national anthem (and a song to celebrate friendship between the Welsh and Bretons) in 1903, at a Congress of the Union Régionaliste Bretonne held in Lesneven
. Maurice Duhamel
adapted it for the piano
, and it was first recorded by Pathé
in 1910.
Ni, Breizhiz a galon, karomp hon gwir Vro !
Brudet eo an Arvor dre ar bed tro-do.
Dispont kreiz ar brezel, hon tadoù ken mat,
A skuilhas eviti o gwad.
Chorus
Breizh, douar ar sent kozh, douar ar varzhed,
N'eus Bro all a garan kement 'barzh ar bed.
Pep menez, pep traoñienn, d'am c'halon zo kaer,
Enno 'kousk meur a Vreizhad taer !
Chorus
Ar Vretoned zo tud kalet ha kreñv;
N'eus pobl ken kalonek a-zindan an neñv,
Gwerz trist, son dudius a ziwan eno,
O ! pegen kaer ec'h out, ma Bro !
Chorus
Mar d'eo bet trec'het Breizh er brezelioù bras,
He Yezh a zo bepred ken beo ha bizkoazh.
He c'halon birvidik a lamm c'hoazh 'n he c'hreiz,
Dihunet out bremañ, ma Breizh !
English
We Bretons at heart, we love our true country!
Our coast is renowned across the world
Without fear of war in their hearts our great ancestors
Spilled their blood for her.
Chorus
Brittany, land of the old saints, land of the bards,
There is no ther country in the world that I love as much;
Each mountain, each valley is dear to my heart.
In them there still sleeps a heroic Breton!
Chorus
The Bretons are a people hard and strong;
No people under the heavens is as fervent;
Sad laments or cheerful songs still among them
Oh! How beautiful you are, my country!
Chorus
If, at other times, you have flinched in war,
Your language has remained
You have now awakened, my Brittany!
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. It is sung to the same tune as that of the national anthem of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the national anthem of Wales. The title – taken from the first words of the song – means "Old Land of My Fathers", usually rendered in English as simply "Land of My Fathers". The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents...
, and has similar words. The Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
anthem, Bro Goth Agan Tasow
Bro Goth Agan Tasow
Bro Goth agan Tasow is one of the anthems of Cornwall. It is sung to the same tune as the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau...
, is also sung to the same tune.
The Breton lyrics are the creation of François Jaffrennou
François Jaffrennou
François-Joseph-Claude Jaffrennou was a Breton language writer and editor. He was a Breton nationalist and a neo-druid bard. He is also known as François Taldir-Jaffrennou, since he also used the Druidic name Taldir...
in 1897, and the music was that composed by the Welsh James James
James James
James James was a harpist and musician from Pontypridd, Wales. He composed the tune of the Welsh national anthem Hen Wlad fy Nhadau ....
for Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. The new song was first published in 1898, and circulated as Henvelidigez ("Adaptation"). It was chosen as national anthem (and a song to celebrate friendship between the Welsh and Bretons) in 1903, at a Congress of the Union Régionaliste Bretonne held in Lesneven
Lesneven
Lesneven is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.It lies northeast of Brest, about from the English Channel in the middle of the Leon plateau.-History:...
. Maurice Duhamel
Maurice Duhamel
Maurice Duhamel , was the pen-name of Maurice Bourgeaux, a Breton musician, writer and activist who was a leading figure in Breton nationalism and federalist politics in the years before World War II.-Early life:...
adapted it for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and it was first recorded by Pathé
Pathé Records
Pathé Records was a France-based international record label and producer of phonographs, active from the 1890s through the 1930s.- Early years :...
in 1910.
Text
BretonNi, Breizhiz a galon, karomp hon gwir Vro !
Brudet eo an Arvor dre ar bed tro-do.
Dispont kreiz ar brezel, hon tadoù ken mat,
A skuilhas eviti o gwad.
Chorus
- O Breizh ! ma Bro ! Me 'gar ma Bro. (Oh Brittany, my country! I love my country.)
- Tra ma vo 'r mor 'vel mur 'n he zro. (As long as the sea will be a wall around her.)
- Ra vezo digabestr ma Bro ! (Be free my country!)
Breizh, douar ar sent kozh, douar ar varzhed,
N'eus Bro all a garan kement 'barzh ar bed.
Pep menez, pep traoñienn, d'am c'halon zo kaer,
Enno 'kousk meur a Vreizhad taer !
Chorus
Ar Vretoned zo tud kalet ha kreñv;
N'eus pobl ken kalonek a-zindan an neñv,
Gwerz trist, son dudius a ziwan eno,
O ! pegen kaer ec'h out, ma Bro !
Chorus
Mar d'eo bet trec'het Breizh er brezelioù bras,
He Yezh a zo bepred ken beo ha bizkoazh.
He c'halon birvidik a lamm c'hoazh 'n he c'hreiz,
Dihunet out bremañ, ma Breizh !
English
We Bretons at heart, we love our true country!
Our coast is renowned across the world
Without fear of war in their hearts our great ancestors
Spilled their blood for her.
Chorus
- O Brittany, my country, how I love my country
- As long as the sea is like a wall around her
- Be free, my country!
Brittany, land of the old saints, land of the bards,
There is no ther country in the world that I love as much;
Each mountain, each valley is dear to my heart.
In them there still sleeps a heroic Breton!
Chorus
The Bretons are a people hard and strong;
No people under the heavens is as fervent;
Sad laments or cheerful songs still among them
Oh! How beautiful you are, my country!
Chorus
If, at other times, you have flinched in war,
Your language has remained
You have now awakened, my Brittany!