Gens Cambrina - Son an Tantad, Dir ha tan

Son an Tantad and Dir ha tan are two traditional Breton songs in honor of the "fire-father", the sun, and the elements of nature. Their musical mode particularly evokes the ancient Celtic harp with bronze strings. Son an Tantad, "Chant de la St Jean", (literally "song of the fire-father"), is traditionally sung in Léon and Trégor (north-west of Brittany). It is danced as a jimnaska (a circle dance). Dir ha tan "steel and fire" (or Gwin ar C'hallaoued "the wine of the Gauls") is taken from the Barzhaz Breizh, collection of La Villemarqué which traces the origin of this pre-Christian warrior song to the 6th century, to the time of the formation of the Breton kingdoms of Armorica. In addition to the reference to the sun and fire, it is interesting to note that the elements invoked in the refrain correspond to the five elements of Chinese medicine: fire, steel (metal), earth, sea (water), oak (wood). Musically, these two songs are based on the LA-MI fifth and its harmonics, a characteristic structure of the ancient Celtic harp tuned in perfect fifths. The bronze and gold strings of the ancient harp radiate from a single point in space, evoking the sun and also the tribann. The Gens Cambrina ensemble is made up of students from Brittany historical harp school directed by Violaine Mayor and accompanied by Joël Herrou. The ensemble plays on replicas of historical harps with bronze strings and hollow willow soundboxes made by the Harpes Herrou workshop: https://www.harpesherrou.fr/ On harp and vocals: Véronique Lambert, Myriam Martini, Claire Brenneur, Violaine Mayor. On fiddle: Joel Herrou. Sound engineer: Jean Herrou Image: Mikael Herrou Lyrics and translation below, harp scores on the members area of ​​Hent Telenn Breizh: https://www.henttelenn.bzh/ Son an Tantad Deiz gouel Yann diwezhañ, Tra lalala la la, Deiz gouel Yann diwezhañ, ‘m oa bet va femzek bloaz O me ‘m boa bet plijadur, Tra lalala la la, O me ‘m boa bet plijadur, O vont da Lanskolvan Gant tout va amezeien, Tra lalala la la, Gant tout va amezeien, Ha paotred Kervaria. Savet e oa un tantad (…) E kroaz-hent Beg ar C’ha An tan a lamme uhel (…) ‘n ur strinkañ ’n ur strakañ Ha me dride va c’halon (…) O welet ken brav oa. Tro war dro viche gwelet (…) Ur bern tantadoù all E-kreiz an deñvalijenn, (…) Betek an dremmwell dall Dre holl ar bed e sonjen, (…) ‘vez gwelet kement all Met paotr e akordeoñs (…) Stagas souden da son Ha setu krog an dañsoù (…) ‘vel ma viche pardon Jabadao ha gavotenn (…) Dañs-tro war bep seurt ton Faotet am boa va botoù (…) ‘tañsal ar jimnaska Va c’hoef nevez oa joget (…) Ha va blev war va skoaz O biskoaz ken brav nozvezh (…) n’am eus ket gwelet c’hoazh. Song of the Midsummer fire (Jimnaska) At the last St Jean I had been fifteen Oh I had fun Going to Lanskolvan With all my neighbors And the guys from Kermaria. A great fire was prepared At the crossroads of Beg ar C’hra The fire was leaping high Springing and crackling, And my heart was vibrating Seeing it so beautiful. All around you could see Many other fires In the middle of the dark To the blind horizon All over the world I thought You could see just as much. But the guy with the accordion Suddenly started to play And here the dances begin As for a pardon (festival of the local saint) Jabadao and gavotte (breton dances) Round dances to all sorts of tunes I split my hooves By dancing the jimnaska My new headdress had slipped And my hair on my shoulders Oh such a beautiful night I haven't seen yet. Dir ha Tan (pe Gwin ar C’hallaoued) Gwell eo gwin gwenn barr na mouar ! Gwell eo gwin gwenn barr ! Tan ! tan ! dir ! o ! dir ! Tan ! tan ! dir ha tan ! tann ! tann ! Tir ! ha tonn ! tonn ! tann ! Tir ha tir ha tann ! Gwell eo gwin nevez oh! na mez; Gwell eo gwin nevez. Tan ! Tan… Kanevedenn gen wa da benn ! Kanevedenn gen ! Tan ! Tan… The wine of the Gauls (and the dance of the sword) Better white wine from grapes than from blackberries Better white grape wine! Fire ! fire ! steel ! o! steel ! Fire ! fire ! steel and fire! Oak ! Oak ! Earth ! and sea wave ! sea wave ! Oak ! Earth and earth and oak! Better new wine than mead; Better new wine. Fire ! Fire ! … May the rainbow shine on your forehead! May the rainbow shine! Fire ! Fire ! ...