Volume 10 - Flipbook - Page 12
012
BAGAD CAP CAVAL
music. His approach was certainly
different from Dorig le Voyer’s and
prevails in Brittany at that time.
Pipe bands in Brittany are a little
different and called bagad bands. It is
very exciting that many instruments
can be used in these bands such as the
great highland bagpipes, bombards,
scottish snare drums and percussions.
Other instruments can be added from
time to time as well. Bagad bands were
created in the late 40s, based on the
pipe band model. The Bagad Federation
(Bodadeg Ar Sonerion) was created in
held in 1949. This Federation organize
competitions every year but also
employs bagpipes, bombard and snare
drum teachers all over Brittany (over
40 teachers). They are teaching from
bands to bands, usually group sessions
given the number of students (around
4500 students) There are 6 grades in
Brittany, from grade 1 to 4A/B with an
average number of 15 bands in each.
Bagad competitions hold during spring
and summer. Concerning grade 1, 2
every year. It gives the occasion to go
and meet specialists from each « terroir
». The second competition in Lorient
is more free and requires a 10 minute
breton music suite.
Besides the competitive side, bagad
bands are always encouraged to create
shows that can broaden the audience.
Most of the time, people who never
heard about a bagad band are brought
to breton music with these kind of
concerts. Bagad Cap Caval (Ijin, Tan
Dei), Kemper (Sud ar Su, Melezour),
Auray (Breizh Kabar) but also Vannes
(Contrechamps) manage to put
together outstanding shows that mix
many different kind of music together.
There are now around 140 bagad bands
in Brittany for a total population of 3.2
million. Bagad bands are starting to
create all over the world also (New York,
Reunion Island or Guadeloupe). Part II
of Breton Music will begin to discuss
the music selection which are used in
bagad bands.
BAGAD KEMPER
