Symphonie Celtique
Encyclopedia
Symphonie Celtique, subtitled "Tir na nOg
", a folk-rock album by Alan Stivell
, originally released as a double LP in 1980 by CBS France, catalogue number CBS 88487. Digitally remastered and reissued on CD in 1988 by Disques Dreyfus, catalogue number FDM 36196-2.
Composed entirely by Stivell, featuring instrumental arrangements by Stivell assisted by Christopher Hayward and Michel Prezman, and with over 70 musicians contributing, this was a large undertaking. As well as embracing the classic Stivell fare of Breton
, Scottish and Irish instrumentation, this early nod at world music includes oriental and African sounds as well as a full orchestra and lavish production values. On the original vinyl release, the "three circle" symphonic construction was emphasised in the track listings to a greater extent than with the subsequent CD reissue.
The original double LP was packaged in a gatefold sleeve whose interior featured a still from the Roman Polanski
film Tess
depicting Stonehenge
in the mist.
.
with additional pipe and drum bands, full orchestra, a choir directed by Christiane Legrand, and the Berber
female vocal group DjurDjura.
Tír na nÓg
Tír na nÓg is the most popular of the Otherworlds in Irish mythology. It is perhaps best known from the story of Oisín, one of the few mortals who lived there, who was said to have been brought there by Niamh of the Golden Hair. It was where the Tuatha Dé Danann settled when they left Ireland's...
", a folk-rock album by Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell is a Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the celtic harp who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music.- Background: learning Breton music and culture :Alan was born in the Auvergnat town of Riom...
, originally released as a double LP in 1980 by CBS France, catalogue number CBS 88487. Digitally remastered and reissued on CD in 1988 by Disques Dreyfus, catalogue number FDM 36196-2.
Composed entirely by Stivell, featuring instrumental arrangements by Stivell assisted by Christopher Hayward and Michel Prezman, and with over 70 musicians contributing, this was a large undertaking. As well as embracing the classic Stivell fare of Breton
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
, Scottish and Irish instrumentation, this early nod at world music includes oriental and African sounds as well as a full orchestra and lavish production values. On the original vinyl release, the "three circle" symphonic construction was emphasised in the track listings to a greater extent than with the subsequent CD reissue.
The original double LP was packaged in a gatefold sleeve whose interior featured a still from the Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
film Tess
Tess (film)
Tess is a 1980 romance film directed by Roman Polanski, an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1891 novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles. It tells the story of a strong-willed, young peasant girl who finds out she has title connections by way of her old aristocratic surname and who is raped by her wealthy...
depicting Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
in the mist.
Track listing
This track listing is as presented on the sleeve of the original LP release; this differs slightly from that of the CD reissue. All music was composed by Alan StivellAlan Stivell
Alan Stivell is a Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the celtic harp who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music.- Background: learning Breton music and culture :Alan was born in the Auvergnat town of Riom...
.
- KELC'H UNAN: premier Cercle
- BEAJ d'an Ec'honderiou Diabarzh
- HIRAEZH d'an Amser dremenet ha da-zoned
- "Gwerz 1" et "Loc'h ar Goulenn"
- DIVODAN en Holl Veur
- KELC'H DAOU: deuxième Cercle
- EMSKIANT newez tost d'ar Mann en Eil Bed kenstur
- KENDASKREN Gant an Hollved
- IMRAM d'an Inisenn
- DILESTRAN was Inis gWenva
- KELC'H TRI: troisième Cercle
- AR C'HAMMOU KENTAN war an Inisenn
- Kawadden AR GEODED SKEDUS: Tir Na Nóg
- AR BALE TREMA 'R GEODED
- GOUEL HOLLVEDEL
- AN DISTRO
Personnel
- Alan StivellAlan StivellAlan Stivell is a Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the celtic harp who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music.- Background: learning Breton music and culture :Alan was born in the Auvergnat town of Riom...
- vocals, harps, Scottish bagpipes, whistle, bombardBombardBombard may refer to:*The act of carrying out a bombardment*Bombard , a type of late medieval siege weapon.*Bombard , a contemporary double reed instrument used to play traditional Breton music.... - Chris Hayward - flute, percussion
- Robby Finkel - keyboards
- Michel Prezman - keyboards
- Dominique Widiez - keyboards
- Marc Perru - guitars
- Mikael Valy - bass guitar
- Roger Secco - drums
- Padrig Kerre - fiddle, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, bodhranBodhránThe bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side... - Daniel Herve - uilleann pipesUilleann pipesThe uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...
- Marie-José Cochevelou - spoken word
- Maire Fenton - Irish vocal
- Una Ramos - kenaQuenaThe quena is the traditional flute of the Andes. Usually made of bamboo or wood, it has 6 finger holes and one thumb hole and is open on both ends. To produce sound, the player closes the top end of the pipe with the flesh between his chin and lower lip, and blows a stream of air downward, along...
- Narendra Bataju - sitarSitarThe 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
- Mrs Bataju - tampura
with additional pipe and drum bands, full orchestra, a choir directed by Christiane Legrand, and the Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
female vocal group DjurDjura.