Emerald (Alan Stivell album)

Emerald is the 23rd album by Breton musician Alan Stivell, released in 2009. The album celebrates Stivell's 40-year career (Emerald wedding) since 1970's Reflets (Reflections), his first album as a singer. It's a return to the roots, a return to the violin and to folk-rock (Chemins de Terre), and both an ever innovative approach, playing on electric harp and bagpipes prototypes and in musical arrangements that are as eclectic as they are original.

Emerald
Studio album by
Alan Stivell
ReleasedOctober 2009
Recorded2009 - Rennes (Brittany)
GenreCeltic music - Celtic fusion
Celtic rock - Neofolk Music of Brittany
Length57:55
LabelCoop Breizh / Harmonia Mundi
ProducerAlan Stivell
Alan Stivell chronology
Explore
(2007)		 Emerald
(2009)		 AMzer: Seasons
(2015)

Overview

Stivell chooses to travel across the Celtic nations, worldwide (Africa, India, America) and through the musical styles that influenced him (folk-rock, electropop, traditional).[1] He created a mix of acoustic and electric Celtic harps and bagpipes,[2] folk-rock orchestration (violins, guitars, percussion) navigating in different cultures and languages.[3] In the single Brittany's - Ar Bleizi mor (wolffish, sailors), he pay homage to the sea, which he claims its role as a link between peoples.[4] With his very distinctive vocal and writing styles, he effortlessly blends Breton, French and English (along with Gaelic and Welsh). In addition, Stivell wanted to present songs that were popular in the Brittany of yesteryear as well as in English-speaking and other Celtic countries.

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Brittany's" (Ar Bleizi Mor)5:56
2."Lusk" (Skye Boat Song)4:08
3."Marionig" (in reference to Marion du Faouët)3:29
4."Tamm ha tamm" (Rennes, Nantes & Brest)3:16
5."Gaels' Call" (Glaoch na nGael)6:07
6."Harplinn"4:13
7."Goadec Rock" (in reference to Goadec Sisters)5:17
8."Eibhlin" (Eileen a Roon)6:52
9."Aquarelle" (Er penn all d'al lanne)3:44
10."An hirañ noz" (Noël, Espoir / Ar hyd y nos / All Through The Night)4:41
11."Mac Crimon (9.12)" (part I)2:23
12."Mac Crimon (9.12)" (part II)4:51
13."Mac Crimon (9.12)" (part III)2:58
Total length:57:55

Personnel
  • Alan Stivell - vocals, harps, bagpipes, bombarde, flutes, percussion, synthesizers, piano, arrangements, production and composition
  • Loumi Seveno - violins, alti, viele, bodhran (1,2,4,5,7,8,9)
  • Christope Peloil - alto (2)
  • Gaetan Grandjean - acoustic and electric guitar
  • Nicolas Méheust - Hammond organ, melotron, piano, bass
  • Marcus Camus - percussion, drums
  • Iwan Ellien du Bagad Gwengamp - Scottish soldier drum (3)
  • Dom Duff - vocals (1,4)
  • Solenn Lefeuvre - vocals (2)
  • Ensemble choral du Bout du Monde directed by Christian Desbordes (11,12)

References
  1. Régis Le Sommier, « Alan Stivell, le druide de la musique celtique », Paris Match, Novembre 25, 2009
  2. Alan Stivell, www.rfimusic.com
  3. Emerald harpblog Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, October 05, 2009
  4. Brittany's clip (2009)

See also
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