| Brittany
in the north-west of France has its own traditions in song and dance which are quite
distinct from those of the rest of the country. In the fifth and sixth centuries the Celts
fled from Britain following the Anglo-Saxon invasion. These Celtic roots link the Bretons
(people from Brittany) with people in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall
(in England), and the Spanish regions of Galicia and The Asturias. Every summer musicians
from these countries come together at Lorient to celebrate their common identity at the Festival
Interceltique, a colourful carnival of music and dance. Bretons enjoy their
traditional music all year round at local festivals and parties. The Fest-Noz or
Night Festival is an evening of eating, drinking and dancing, which is held in a large
village barn or hall. The music is usually provided by a couple de sonneurs –
two musicians, who play instruments called the bombarde and biniou. The bombard
is a wind instrument – a very old, shortened version of the oboe. The biniou
is a Breton bagpipe, similar to Scottish bagpipes. The music is fast, and villagers dance
energetically. Sometimes they stop for a rest while a singer performs a gwerz or
ballad, which is not accompanied by instruments.
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