An Alarc'h Explained

"An Alarc'h" ("The Swan") is a Breton traditional song. It is found in the 1839 collection Barzaz Breiz.^[1] It tells of the return from exile in England of the Breton prince Jean de Montfort (known as "The Swan of Montfort")^[2] and his defeat of the French army under Bertrand du Guesclin in 1379.^[3] It has been recorded by, amongst others, Alan Stivell and Gilles Servat.^[4]

The Scottish folk song "The Twa Corbies", a variation of the English song "The Three Ravens", was set to the tune of "An Alarc'h" by R. M. Blythman.^[5]

Lyrics

(From the Barzaz Breiz of 1839)

Recordings

• À l'Olympia, Alan Stivell (1972, Fontana, 6399 005)
• Musiques Celtiques, An Triskell (1973, Philips, 632145)
• Je Ne Hurlerai Pas Avec Les Loups, Gilles Servat (1983, Kalondour, 814 362-1)
• Tri Yann an Naoned, Tri Yann (1972, Kelenn, 6332 626)
• Hanternoz, (August 2013)
• Molène, Didier Squiban (1997, L'Oz Production – L'OZ 17)

References

1. Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué, Barzaz Breiz. Franck, 1846, p. 380.
2. Yann Brékilien, La Bretagne d'hier et de demain. J. P. Delarge, 1978., p. 118
3. André-Georges Hamon, Chantres de toutes les Bretagnes: 20 ans de chanson bretonne. J. Picollec, 1981., p. 49
4. Françoise Morvan, Le monde comme si: nationalisme et dérive identitaire en Bretagne. Actes Sud, 2002., p. 173
5. Web site: Twa Corbies / Two Ravens. Mainly Norfolk. 25 December 2014.