Maurice Duhamel
Encyclopedia
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
.
. From youth, he displayed great musical talent, composing his own original works, and collecting and arranging traditional Breton songs. He also worked as a journalist for music magazines. Meanwhile, he learned the Breton language
and studied Breton literature.
At the age of 19, he reported for a local newspaper on the trial of Alfred Dreyfus
, which took place in the premises of his high school in Rennes. Like his father he was a Dreyfusard and a Freemason. However, he left Freemasonry because he was shocked by the Affaire Des Fiches
in 1905.
(Union Régionaliste Bretonne), and created the piano score for Bro Gozh ma Zadoù
, the song chosen by the Union to be the Breton national anthem. In 1912, he resigned from the Union, along with Emile Masson
, Camille Le Mercier d'Erm
, François Vallée and Loeiz Herrieu, to found the more leftist Breton Regionalist Federation, which, contrary to other Bretonist organisations, survived the First World War, and started a political magazine, Le Réveil breton, in 1920.
In 1926, he met Olier Mordrel
and Morvan Marchal
. The three men rapidly formed themselves into a steering committee to create the Breton Autonomist Party
, which was founded in 1927. He was responsible for establishing links to national French political movements, particularly the French left. He became editor in chief of the party journal Breiz Atao
and he gave the party a federalist and leftist orientation. However, his views clashed with the right wing of the party, led by Mordrel, which was drawn to outright separatism and was in sympathy with Nazi ideology.
The disputes eventually led both Duhamel and Marchal to resign in early 1931. Duhamel explained his own federalist vision:
Faced with the creation of Mordrel's pro-Nazi Breton National Party
, Duhamel, Marchal and others set up the short-lived Breton Federalist League
, which was replaced after 1933 by other groups.
In the late 1930s, Duhamel worked on his History of the Breton People: from their origins to 1532, which was published in 1939. However, copies were seized by the French government on its publication because its perceived anti-French viewpoint was seen as seditious on the outbreak of World War II
. Duhamel died of cancer in 1940 without having completed the second volume of his History of the Breton People, which was to have covered the period after the union of Brittany with France in 1532.
and François-Marie Luzel
before him, he collected folk ballads. His publications on the subject are important, and he was highly regarded by the most influential writers on the subject of the era, such as Anatole Le Braz
and Joseph Loth.
Orchestral
Chamber music
Piano
Vocal and sacred
Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism is the nationalism of the traditional province of Brittany in France. Brittany is considered to be one of the six Celtic nations...
and federalist politics in the years before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Duhamel was the son of a coal merchant from RennesRennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
. From youth, he displayed great musical talent, composing his own original works, and collecting and arranging traditional Breton songs. He also worked as a journalist for music magazines. Meanwhile, he learned the Breton language
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
and studied Breton literature.
At the age of 19, he reported for a local newspaper on the trial of Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus
Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer of Jewish background whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most tense political dramas in modern French and European history...
, which took place in the premises of his high school in Rennes. Like his father he was a Dreyfusard and a Freemason. However, he left Freemasonry because he was shocked by the Affaire Des Fiches
Affaire Des Fiches
L'Affaire des Fiches de délation was a political scandal in France in 1904-1905 in which it was discovered that the militantly anticlerical War Minister under Emile Combes, General Louis André, was determining promotions based on a huge card index on public officials, detailing which were Catholic...
in 1905.
Political activity
He joined the Breton Regionalist UnionBreton Regionalist Union
The Breton regionalist union , was a Breton cultural and political organisation created August 16 1898. It was a broadly conservative grouping dedicated to preserving Breton cultural identity and regional independence...
(Union Régionaliste Bretonne), and created the piano score for Bro Gozh ma Zadoù
Bro Gozh ma Zadoù
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 song chosen by the Union to be the Breton national anthem. In 1912, he resigned from the Union, along with Emile Masson
Émile Masson
Émile Masson was a Breton writer and thinker. He also used the pseudonyms Brenn, Ewan Gweznou, and Ion Prigent.Born in Brest, he was not brought up speaking Breton, but acquired the language in later life. He received two degrees and moved to Paris...
, Camille Le Mercier d'Erm
Camille Le Mercier d'Erm
Camille Le Mercier d'Erm was a French poet, historian and Breton nationalist. He later adopted the neo-Bardic name Kammermor. He is also known as Kamil Ar Merser 'Erm, the Breton language form of his name...
, François Vallée and Loeiz Herrieu, to found the more leftist Breton Regionalist Federation, which, contrary to other Bretonist organisations, survived the First World War, and started a political magazine, Le Réveil breton, in 1920.
In 1926, he met Olier Mordrel
Olier Mordrel
Olier Mordrel is the Breton language version of Olivier Mordrelle, a Breton nationalist and wartime collaborator with the Third Reich who founded the separatist Breton National Party. Before the war he worked as an architect. His architectural work was influenced by Art Deco and the International...
and Morvan Marchal
Morvan Marchal
Morvan Marchal , is the Breton name of Maurice Marchal, an architect and a militant Breton nationalist. He is best known for having designed the national flag of Brittany.-Biography:...
. The three men rapidly formed themselves into a steering committee to create the Breton Autonomist Party
Breton Autonomist Party
The Breton Autonomist Party was a political party which existed in Brittany from 1927 to 1931-Origin:The party was created at the first congress of the nationalist journal Breiz Atao in Rosporden on September 1927. It followed from establishment of the Unvaniez Yaouankiz Vreiz...
, which was founded in 1927. He was responsible for establishing links to national French political movements, particularly the French left. He became editor in chief of the party journal Breiz Atao
Breiz Atao
Breiz Atao , was a Breton nationalist journal in the mid-twentieth century. The term is also used for the broader movement associated with the journal's political position....
and he gave the party a federalist and leftist orientation. However, his views clashed with the right wing of the party, led by Mordrel, which was drawn to outright separatism and was in sympathy with Nazi ideology.
The disputes eventually led both Duhamel and Marchal to resign in early 1931. Duhamel explained his own federalist vision:
The current status of Europe is outdated, and the internationalization of economic life requires a political federation where existing states allow room for genuine national communities. But here, the autonomy of federal components is no longer required because of history, race or old treaties, but because it is the natural outcome of a new organization which is essential for Europe if it is to escape the wars that its economic borders attract - as iron attracts lightning.
Faced with the creation of Mordrel's pro-Nazi Breton National Party
Breton National Party
The Breton National Party was a nationalist party in Brittany that existed from 1931 to 1944. The party was disbanded after the liberation of France in World War II, because of ties to the Nazi party....
, Duhamel, Marchal and others set up the short-lived Breton Federalist League
Breton Federalist League
The Breton Federalist League was a short lived Breton political party in the 1930s. A new organization with the same name was created in the 21st century.-Origin:...
, which was replaced after 1933 by other groups.
In the late 1930s, Duhamel worked on his History of the Breton People: from their origins to 1532, which was published in 1939. However, copies were seized by the French government on its publication because its perceived anti-French viewpoint was seen as seditious on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Duhamel died of cancer in 1940 without having completed the second volume of his History of the Breton People, which was to have covered the period after the union of Brittany with France in 1532.
Musical works
Duhamel's compositions were primarily for voice and piano. His orchestral works are rare. Brittany was central to Duhmal's inspiration as the names of his works such as "Impressions de Bretagne" and "Esquisses bretonnes" emphasise. He was also a founder of the Association of Breton Composers. Like Louis-Albert Bourgault-DucoudrayLouis-Albert Bourgault-Ducoudray
Louis-Albert Bourgault-Ducoudray was a French Breton composer, pianist, and professor of music history/theory at the Conservatoire de Paris as well as a Prix de Rome laureate. He was born at Nantes and died at Vernouillet, near Dreux...
and François-Marie Luzel
François-Marie Luzel
François-Marie Luzel , often known by his Breton name Fañch an Uhel, was a French folklorist and Breton-language poet.- Early years :...
before him, he collected folk ballads. His publications on the subject are important, and he was highly regarded by the most influential writers on the subject of the era, such as Anatole Le Braz
Anatole Le Braz
Anatole le Braz, the "Bard of Brittany" was a Breton folklore collector and translator. He was highly regarded amongst both European and American scholars, and known for his warmth and charm....
and Joseph Loth.
Orchestral
- Three short oriental pieces, 1924
- Harald, an overture, 1926
- La Trahison, Galopade, Bataille, Epilogue, four incidentals, 1927
- Grazioso, Amoroso, Doloroso, Agitato, four incidentals, 1927
- In Celtic Lands, (1. Gallic song, 2. Wedding procession in Trégor, 3. In the sea mists of the Hebrides, 4. Highland Pipes, 5. A Maytime evening in Argoad, 6. Sword dance), 1928
- Under a Balcony in Murcia, 1929
- Habanera, 1929
- Two Celtic Marches, 1930
Chamber music
- Soniou an Dous, Canevon y briodferch, Engagement Songs for violoncello or viola and piano, 1911
Piano
- The Chevalier of Guet, 1905
- Waltz, 1906
- Impressions of Brittany, 1907
- Esquisses bretonnes, 1915
- In Celtic Lands, six easy pieces (1. Gallic song, 2. Wedding procession in Trégor, 3. In the sea mists of the Hebrides, 4. Highland Pipes, 5. A Maytime evening in Argoad, 6. Sword dance), 1925.
Vocal and sacred
- Viviane: a lyrical drama
- Arrangements of works by romantic composers
- Arrangements of folk songs
- The Shifting Heart, comic work, 1908
- Gwerziou ha Soniou Breiz Izel, 1913
- Folk Songs of the Vannes Region, 1930
Publications
- Musiques bretonnes, "Gwerziou ha soniou Breiz-Izel", preface by Anatole Le BrazAnatole Le BrazAnatole le Braz, the "Bard of Brittany" was a Breton folklore collector and translator. He was highly regarded amongst both European and American scholars, and known for his warmth and charm....
, Paris, Rouart, Lerolle et Cie Editeurs, 1913. republished by Dastum, 1997. - La question bretonne dans son cadre Européen, Paris, Delpeuch, 1929
- Chansons populaires du pays de Vannes, by Loeiz HerrieuLoeiz HerrieuLoeiz Herrieu or Louis Henrio was a Breton historian who wrote in his native language of Breton vannetais. The son of a farmer, he was nicknamed Er Barh Labourér ....
, tunes transcribed by Maurice Duhamel, 1930, republished by EROMI, Lorient, 1997. - Histoire du peuple breton, original edition seized in 1939. Republished in 2000.