Glenmor
Encyclopedia
Glenmor was the stage name of Emile Le Scanf (1931–1996), a Breton protest singer who sought to preserve the Breton language
and adapt local traditions of folk singing to the radical culture of the 1960s and 70s. He is also known by the Breton name Milig Ar Skañv.
. In 1941 he entered the small seminary in Quintin
. After his military service in Paris, he obtained a licence de philosophie at Rennes in 1952. He then travelled extensively in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Russia until 1954 . During this period he began writing and composing.
His musical career really began in 1959 with a recital in Paris before a small audience. He later released his first album as "Glenmor", Glenmor à la Mutualité. His stage name was derived from words for land (glen) and sea (mor) in Breton. His distinctive style led to popularity.
His songs aggressively asserted the unique cultural identity of Brittany. He portrayed himself as a political radical with anti-clerical
and anarchist views. He wore a beard and his hair long, in a revival of the traditional Breton peasant style.
). In June 1979, he participated in a hunger strike to protest against the detention of a Breton activist arrested following an attack against the Chateau of Versailles.
With his friends Alain Guel and Xavier Grall
, he helped found the publishing house "Kelenn", where in 1968 he published Le Livre des Chansons. A few years later Grall published Barde imaginé and La fête de la nuit (1972), works in which Glenmor is the main character, in the fictionalised form of the bard "Arzel". In the early 1970s he, Grall and Guel founded the newspaper la Nation bretonne, which was influential on the Breton intellectual elite.
In 1977 he appeared in Pierre Perrault
's film C'etait un Québécois en Bretagne, madame! along with fellow Breton nationalist Meavenn
. Both are portrayed as "poets of dispossession, the voices of a despairing national identity." Glemnor describes himself in the film as an "oral journalist with opinions".
In 1978, he was designated "Breton of the Year" by Armor
Magazine. In 1990 he retired from performance to devote himself to writing.
He was decorated with the Order of the Ermine
in 1990. He died six years later on June 18, 1996. Several thousand people attended his funeral in Mael-Carhaix . The tomb is inscribed with the words, "Émile LE SCANV (1931-1996) Et voici bien ma terre, la vallée de mes amours. Glenmor".
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
and adapt local traditions of folk singing to the radical culture of the 1960s and 70s. He is also known by the Breton name Milig Ar Skañv.
Early career
Emile Le Scanf was born in 1931 at Mael-CarhaixMaël-Carhaix
Maël-Carhaix is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Maël-Carhaix are called in French maël-carhaisiens.-External links:* * -Images:*...
. In 1941 he entered the small seminary in Quintin
Quintin
Quintin is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Quintin are called quintinais.-External links: *...
. After his military service in Paris, he obtained a licence de philosophie at Rennes in 1952. He then travelled extensively in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Russia until 1954 . During this period he began writing and composing.
His musical career really began in 1959 with a recital in Paris before a small audience. He later released his first album as "Glenmor", Glenmor à la Mutualité. His stage name was derived from words for land (glen) and sea (mor) in Breton. His distinctive style led to popularity.
His songs aggressively asserted the unique cultural identity of Brittany. He portrayed himself as a political radical with anti-clerical
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
and anarchist views. He wore a beard and his hair long, in a revival of the traditional Breton peasant style.
Activism
Actively engaged in Breton nationalism, Glenmor wrote the song le Kan bale lu poblek Breizh, later renamed Kan bale an ARB, which was the marching song of the ARB (Armée Révolutionnaire Bretonne; Breton Revolutionary ArmyBreton Revolutionary Army
The Breton Revolutionary Army , is an illegal armed organization that is part of the Breton nationalism movement in the Brittany region of France.-I- Origins of the conflict:...
). In June 1979, he participated in a hunger strike to protest against the detention of a Breton activist arrested following an attack against the Chateau of Versailles.
With his friends Alain Guel and Xavier Grall
Xavier Grall
Xavier Grall was a journalist and poet from Brittany, France who was a strong advocate of Breton nationalism during the Third Emsav. His work glorifies a mystical Brittany.-Early career:...
, he helped found the publishing house "Kelenn", where in 1968 he published Le Livre des Chansons. A few years later Grall published Barde imaginé and La fête de la nuit (1972), works in which Glenmor is the main character, in the fictionalised form of the bard "Arzel". In the early 1970s he, Grall and Guel founded the newspaper la Nation bretonne, which was influential on the Breton intellectual elite.
In 1977 he appeared in Pierre Perrault
Pierre Perrault
Pierre Perrault was a Québécois documentary film director. He directed 20 films between 1963 and 1996. He was one of the most important filmmakers in Canada although largely unknown outside of Québec...
's film C'etait un Québécois en Bretagne, madame! along with fellow Breton nationalist Meavenn
Meavenn
Meavenn was the pen name of Francine Rozec, also known as Fant Rozec, a Breton language poet, novelist and playwright linked to Breton nationalism.-Biography:...
. Both are portrayed as "poets of dispossession, the voices of a despairing national identity." Glemnor describes himself in the film as an "oral journalist with opinions".
In 1978, he was designated "Breton of the Year" by Armor
Armor (magazine)
ARMOR is the professional journal of the U.S. Army’s Armor Branch, published by the Chief of Armor at Fort Knox, Kentucky, training center for the Army’s tank and cavalry forces...
Magazine. In 1990 he retired from performance to devote himself to writing.
He was decorated with the Order of the Ermine
Order of the Ermine
The Order of the Ermine was a chivalric order of the 14th and 15th centuries in the Duchy of Brittany. The ermine is the emblem of Brittany...
in 1990. He died six years later on June 18, 1996. Several thousand people attended his funeral in Mael-Carhaix . The tomb is inscribed with the words, "Émile LE SCANV (1931-1996) Et voici bien ma terre, la vallée de mes amours. Glenmor".
Discography
- GLENMOR single
- Quatre Chansons en Breton single Ed. SkedSkedSked is shortened version of the word Schedule. It can refer to a flight schedule, a baseball schedule, or any other type of schedule.A sked is a pocket-sized bifold or trifold schedule about the size of a baseball card printed for a sports team...
- GLENMOR single Ed. Kornog
- KATTELL dit GLENMOR : Poèmes album Ed. Ternel
- KATTELL dit GLENMOR : Poèmes album Ed. Ternel
- GLENMOR A LA MUTUALITE album Ed. Ternel
- Cinq Chansons en Breton single Ed. BarclayBarclay-People:* Barclay , people with the surname Barclay* Clan BarclayFictional* Andy Barclay, the protagonist in the first three films of the Child's Play series* Reginald Barclay, character in Star Trek: The Next Generation-Business:...
- Les Temps de la Colère single Ed. Barclay
- CET AMOUR-LA album Ed. Barclay
- HOMMAGE A MORVAN LEBESQUE album
- VIVRE album Ed. Le Chant du Monde LDX 74481
- PRINCES ENTENDEZ BIEN album Ed. Le Chant du Monde LDX 74503
- OUVREZ LES PORTES DE LA NUIT album Ed. le Chant du Monde
- E DIBENN MIZ GWENGOLO album Ed. Le Chant du Monde
- TOUS CES VINGT ANS DEJA... album Ed. Le Chant du Monde
- La Coupe et la Mémoire album Ed. Ar Folk
- TRISTAN CORBIERE : Le Paria dit par Glenmor album Ed. Ar Folk
- Si tu ne chantais pas pour eux à quoi bon demeurer album Ed. Stern Ha Lugern
- Après la Fleur le Fruit sous la Rose l'Épine album Ed. Escalibur
- EN BRETAGNE, NOCES ET FEST-NOZ album Ed. Barclay
- LES PRINCIPALES OEUVRES CD Prod. Ar Folk, Escalibur, Coop Breizh
- AN DISTRO "Et voici bien ma Terre..." CD Ed. Coop Breizh
- AN DISTRO "Ouvrez les Portes de la Nuits" CD Ed. Coop Breizh
- AN DISTRO "Apocaplypse" CD Ed. Coop Breizh
- HOMMAGE A GLENMOR CD Coop Breizh CD KAD 01 (2000)
Writings
- Livre des Chansons (Mutualité 67), éd. Kelenn, 1969, second edition, Stern ha Lugern, 1979
- Livre des Chansons, tome II (Bobino 73), éd. Ternel
- Sables et Dunes, éd. Ternel, 1971
- La Septième Mort, éd. Ternel, 1974, second edition, Libres Halliers, 1982
- Le Sang nomade, éd. Ternel, 1975
- Les emblaves et la moisson, éd. Stern ha Lugern, 1977
- Retraites paysannes, with typography and wood engravings by Claude Huart, éd. Ternel, 1977
- L'Homme du dernier jour, La Gacilly, éd. Artus, 1992
- Les Derniers Feux de la Vallée, Spézet, éd. Coop Breizh, 1995
- La Sanguine, Spézet, éd. Coop Breizh, 1996
- La Férule, Spézet, éd. Coop Breizh, 1997
- Xavier GrallXavier GrallXavier Grall was a journalist and poet from Brittany, France who was a strong advocate of Breton nationalism during the Third Emsav. His work glorifies a mystical Brittany.-Early career:...
in memoriam, Babel, 2000 - Kan ha diskan, Correspondances Grall-Glenmor, Spézet, Coop Breizh, 2007