Between the waters
It was during the summer of 2018, following a stay in Mahalon (southern Finistère), that the desire to make a new album took shape. For several years, this desire had been present but I couldn't decide: what style of music, which instruments, what place? - so many questions to which I could not provide answers and which blocked the creative process necessary for such an undertaking.
I have long had the luck to play Celtic music regularly in different groups, but I had never considered playing it, let alone recording it, solo, because, in my opinion, this music is viscerally collective and evokes the memory of an ancient people.
Never mind; this Breton stay helped me overcome my reluctance and, above all, encouraged me to take this never-dreamed-of path. My choice therefore naturally fell on the orpharion (a sort of old English cittern tuned like a lute), the steel-string guitar and the Irish bouzouki because these are the instruments with which I play this music.
Having had the chance to come to Carentoir (Morbihan) several times to give guitar lessons, which invariably ended with a concert at the Temple church, I hold extraordinary memories of the acoustics of this place so steeped in history. The puzzle was falling into place little by little, but I was still missing the common thread.
I finally followed my instincts in developing the repertoire, thus giving rise to this meeting of dance tunes, traditional songs, ancient pieces and contemporary compositions from Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and England. Like the ancient Celts, I hope that this Celtic Crossing will take you to new shores...
Produced by Emmanuel César et Julien Coulon
Ugo Casalonga / orpharion (Pigna, 2008)
Lakewood / guitar (Giessen, 2018)
John Catherwood / bouzouki (Belfast, 2013)
Thank you
to Christine for her presence, her listening and her essential advice; to Benoît for his friendship, his patience and his calm even in the midst of turmoil; to Marianne for her creativity, her sensitivity and her multiple talents; to Emmanuel for finding for the third time in a row the ad hoc financing; to my children, my family, my friends and my students for the energy they transmit to me.
to Father Guillemain for accepting that this recording be made in the Temple church; to Jean-Pierre Monneraye for receiving us and enlightening us on the history of this magnificent place; to Colette Kuhn for welcoming us, feeding us, housing us and for coordinating the "beating drum" on this recording; to Nicolas Kuhn for inviting me to be an internship partner, and for introducing me to Carentoir; to Maël Guézel for allowing me to record “Visage d'une Louve” and for being such a talented musician; to Dominique Joly for being the involuntary instigator of this adventure; to Doc Rossi for passing on to me the Celtic "feeling" and the passion for metal strings.
In memory of Suzanne Conti and Henri Descourtis
Recorded on October 19, 20 and 21 2018 at the Temple church in Carentoir, France
Benoît Laur / sound recording, editing, mixing and mastering
Cover photo / Marianne Kuhn
Between the waters
It was during the summer of 2018, following a stay in Mahalon (southern Finistère), that the desire to make a new album took shape. For several years, this desire had been present but I couldn't decide: what style of music, which instruments, what place? - so many questions to which I could not provide answers and which blocked the creative process necessary for such an undertaking.
I have long had the luck to play Celtic music regularly in different groups, but I had never considered playing it, let alone recording it, solo, because, in my opinion, this music is viscerally collective and evokes the memory of an ancient people.
Never mind; this Breton stay helped me overcome my reluctance and, above all, encouraged me to take this never-dreamed-of path. My choice therefore naturally fell on the orpharion (a sort of old English cittern tuned like a lute), the steel-string guitar and the Irish bouzouki because these are the instruments with which I play this music.
Having had the chance to come to Carentoir (Morbihan) several times to give guitar lessons, which invariably ended with a concert at the Temple church, I hold extraordinary memories of the acoustics of this place so steeped in history. The puzzle was falling into place little by little, but I was still missing the common thread.
I finally followed my instincts in developing the repertoire, thus giving rise to this meeting of dance tunes, traditional songs, ancient pieces and contemporary compositions from Brittany, Ireland, Scotland and England. Like the ancient Celts, I hope that this Celtic Crossing will take you to new shores...
Produced by Emmanuel César et Julien Coulon
Ugo Casalonga / orpharion (Pigna, 2008)
Lakewood / guitar (Giessen, 2018)
John Catherwood / bouzouki (Belfast, 2013)
Thank you
to Christine for her presence, her listening and her essential advice; to Benoît for his friendship, his patience and his calm even in the midst of turmoil; to Marianne for her creativity, her sensitivity and her multiple talents; to Emmanuel for finding for the third time in a row the ad hoc financing; to my children, my family, my friends and my students for the energy they transmit to me.
to Father Guillemain for accepting that this recording be made in the Temple church; to Jean-Pierre Monneraye for receiving us and enlightening us on the history of this magnificent place; to Colette Kuhn for welcoming us, feeding us, housing us and for coordinating the "beating drum" on this recording; to Nicolas Kuhn for inviting me to be an internship partner, and for introducing me to Carentoir; to Maël Guézel for allowing me to record “Visage d'une Louve” and for being such a talented musician; to Dominique Joly for being the involuntary instigator of this adventure; to Doc Rossi for passing on to me the Celtic "feeling" and the passion for metal strings.
In memory of Suzanne Conti and Henri Descourtis
Recorded on October 19, 20 and 21 2018 at the Temple church in Carentoir, France
Benoît Laur / sound recording, editing, mixing and mastering
Cover photo / Marianne Kuhn
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