An Alarc’h - Breton Celtic War Chant

Vocals & arrangement by Farya Faraji. This is a folk song from Brittany in the Breton language, one of the surviving remnants of Common Brythonic, the language once spoken in Great-Britain before the Anglo-Saxon arrival. The song is found in the 19th century collection of folk songs called “Barzaz Breiz,“ put together by Breton philologist Théodore Claude Henri, vicomte Hersart de la Villemarqué. The song is written with a profoundly nationalistic and patriotic Breton angle, and recounts the return of Yann IV, known as the Swan of Monfort, who was exiled to Britain for a time, but returned in 1379 to defend Brittany against a French force led by another Breton, Bertrand du Guesclin. There, Yann won against Betrand, and regained control of the throne of Brittany. The instrumentation is typical of Breton music, and consists of the Breton bombard, a reed instrument similar to the medieval shawm or the Middle-Eastern zurna, a bagpipe, a fiddle, a flute, a guitar providing the chord progression, and most importantly, the harp, possibly the national instrument of the Breton people and identity. Breton Lyrics: Un alarc’h, un alarc’h tra mor Un alarc’h, un alarc’h tra mor War lein tour moal kastell Arvor Dinn, dinn, daoñ, d’an emgann, d’an emgann, o ! Dinn, dinn, daoñ, d’an emgann ez an Erru ul lestr e pleg ar mor Erru ul lestr e pleg ar mor E ouelioù gwenn gantañ digor Degoue’et an Aotrou Yann en-dro Degoue’et an Aotrou Yann en-dro Digoue’et eo da ziwall e vro Neventi vad d’ar Vretoned Neventi vad d’ar Vretoned Ha mallozh ruz d’ar C’hallaoued Enor, enor d’ar gwenn-ha-du ! Enor, enor d’ar gwenn-ha-du ! Ha d’an dreitourien mallozh ruz ! English translation: A swan, a swan from across the sea A swan, a swan from across the sea On the height of the tower of Castle Armor Dinn, dinn, daoñ, to the battle, to the battle, oh! Dinn, dinn, daoñ, to the battle I’m going! A ship has come to the gulf, A ship has come to the gulf Its white sails are open Dinn, dinn, daoñ, to the battle, to the battle, oh! Dinn, dinn, daoñ, to the battle I’m going! Lord John came back, Lord John came back, Came back to protect his country Glad tidings to the Bretons Glad tidings to the Bretons And a red curse upon the French! Honour, honour to the White and Black Honour, honour to the White and Black And damn the traitors!