Interesting albums from folk and roots music history, by Marius Roeting.
In 2001, the Breton group Kornog toured through the Netherlands for the last time. They were in the special reunion composition of around the turn of the century, in which three of the four original members were represented: guitarist Nicolas Quemener, violinist Christian Lemaitre, flutist and bombarde player Jean Michel Veillon, and bouzouki player and singer Jamie McMenemy. The last played a key role in the band. In the late seventies, the Scot emigrated from Schotland to Brittany, after a successful period with the original composition of the Scottish folk group Battlefield Band. With three of the four later members of Kornog, he made an album under his own name in 1981 (listen to https://www.concertzender.nl/programma/disccover_434717). On this album we can hear the first tentative attempts of a combination of Scottish songs and Breton instrumental pieces, the songs forming the greater part. When flute player Veillon joined the band, a balance was found regarding the musical origin of the material. In 1982, their (nameless) debut album was released. The group was booked by a well-known promotor in the US, without knowing whether the hardly known Breton music would catch on. In fact, it turned out to be a resounding success. Kornog put traditional, and at the same time contemporary, Breton music on the map, also in a modern composition. Their live recorded album Première caused the breakthrough for both the four-man band and hybrid Scottish-Breton folk. The group avoided to do the standard Fest-Noz performances, and aimed to perform in theatres and clubs, before an attentively listening audience. For more than a decade, Kornog would be leader of the revival in Brittany in that period, which was started off by an Alan Stivell. Afterwards, the members of the band each went their own way. Guitarist Soig Siberil became a highly appreciated ‘fingerpicker’ in the open Dadgad tuning, and he joined many a band, as a guest or permanent member (e.g. Den, Gwerz, Pennou Skoulm, Orion). Christian Lemaitre played in, among other groups, Pennou Skoulm and became the driving spirit behind the Celtic Fiddle Festival. Jean Michel Veillon is considered an authority on the wooden transverse flute, and made up a duo with guitarist Yvon Riou. He was also part of Gwerz, Pennou Skoulm and Barzaz, and recorded several albums with guitarist Gilles Le Bigot and bass player/sound creator Alain Genty. After having played a while with Orion, Jamie McMenemy started his own quartet.
Kornog, period of Premiere
Kornog on their last tour in the Netherlands
Kornog – Premiere – Green Linnet SIF 1055
- Introduction
Jamie McMenemy – The Road To Kerrigouarch – Stoof MU 7482
- Laride – Reel (The Musical Priest) (trad) 3.53
Kornog – Premiere – Green Linnet SIF 1055
- Dans Loudieg (trad) 4.12
- The Demon Lover (t trad, m Alan McFayden) 3.34
- Ton Bale – Son Ar Rost (trad, Herri Leon) 3.35
- Dans An Dro (trad) 2.58
- Jesuitmont (trad, McMenemy) 4.53
- Ton Bale Mur Ha Dans (trad) 4.17
- Gwerz Ar Marc’Hadourig Bihan – Autrefois Disait Un Guerrier – Ton Derobee (trad, trad, Veillon) 4.35
- Bonnie Jean Cameron (t trad, m Alan McFayden) 4.02
- Laride – An Dro (trad) 3.41
- War Hent Kerrigouarch’H – Sheriffmuir (Siberil, t trad, m McMenemy) 5.20
Kornog – Korong – Keltia Musique KMCD117
- The Braes o’ Killiecrankie (Burns, James Hogg) 3.24
- Dans Plinn (Cariou-Le Buhé, Veillon) 3.46
Kornog – live broadcast VPRO Wandelende tak 22-10-2001
- Fest Stivell: Gwriziad difenett / Gouel Hollvedel / Feunteun zen (Alan Stivell, JM Veillon, J McMenemy, C Lemaitre, N Quemener) 3.46
