What is a gwerz, what is the mysterious book Barzaz Breizh?

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The song is Diougan Gwenc’hlan, the Lyrics are found in Barzaz Breizh, a fantastic collection of Breton lyrics collected by Hersart de la Villemarqué and published for the first time in 1839.
Full music video here https://youtu.be/jEPzi8_we0c?si=1bYjJBoIGhvtznze
Alan Stivell version https://youtu.be/StYl_0DoQEE?si=wXIrk6m_S9YWfXUB
Yann-Fañch Kemener version https://youtu.be/RvfHsOw1V2w?si=bSm-vm4fsNqN-UpZ

Aux Sources du Barzaz Breiz (music album)
https://amzn.to/44pGuBg

Gwenc’hlan is a mythical Breton bard from the VIc, and was jailed by a Christian prince, and got his eyes gouged out for refusing to convert to Christianity. In the song, he talks about not being afraid to die, the lyrics (very long lyrics, only a small part is found here) then morph into a prophecy of the revenge that will fall upon the Prince. (Please, subscribe, it’s a fascinating theme, we might edit a full video about Barzaz Breizh + Gwenc’hlan )

The Lyrics are a composition from Simone. During the collection of the song in the XIXc, a melody was written. It’s the one you’ll find on Alan Stivell or Yann-Fanch Kemener versions. We always found it sounded quite like a religious hymn, which was personally a bit disturbing considering Gwenc’hlan’s fate. It was composed in the winter 2023, at Sun set, when tide was rising, at Roc’h-allaz, a roc that has the same name as the place Gwenc’hlan was said to be living, a beautiful roc overlooking the sea in Tregor.

Sequences filmed in Western Brittany at various times of the year

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Music : Traditional, Simone Alves & Yann Gourvil
Lyrics : Traditional (Barzaz Breizh, La Villemarqué, Brittany)
Video : Simone Alves