HENT TELENN BREIZH
The Way of the Breton Harp
Association for the preservation, the passing and the development of the art of the ancient Celtic harp rediscovered, and its reintegration into Breton music.
Contact webmaster : webmestre@henttelennbreizh.net
Origin and purpose
Based in Plouneour-Menez (Finistère), in the Monts d’Arrée, our organisation was initiated in 1995 by artists Violaine Mayor and Joël Herrou, in order to rediscover the ancient bronze strung harp of the Celts, played in the Middle Ages by the Brittons and the Gaels.
Since then, we have made replicas of historical medieval harps respecting the ancient building techniques. We have rediscovered their specific playing techniques using the fingernails, aswell as very ancient and abundant amazing repertoires, a large part of which remain to be decifered. We are attached to giving life again to this beautiful heritage recovered at last, and to restoring it to the public through an active work of passing on and cultural immersion.
In the peat
HENT TELENN BREIZH administrators:
Joël Herrou : President and founding member. Françoise Abgrall : Vice-president. Laurent Aprile : Vice-president. Christine Leal : Tresurer. Gwenaëlle Combot : Secretary. Violaine Mayor : tutor.
Harper Violaine Mayor
(Photo A. Pennec)
Pieces from a "Queen Mary"
Newspage
Membership : student member 10€,
friend member 15€,
supporting member from 30€.
Our activities
-Harp making : replicas of historical harps
-Early Celtic harps classes
-weekly and monthly workshops
-Research in medieval chant (Inchcolm Antiphon...), singing workshops
-Publications : books, recordings
-Concerts, festoù-noz, conferences, school concerts
-A high point in the summer : the summer class Telenn ar Gelted ("Harp of the Celts")
"Queen Mary" harp
MP3 Extracts