If there was one word to describe Awen, Tristan Le Govic’s latest offering, it would be Gentle. In his hands, the Celtic harp laments, dreams and dances its way through this collection of original and traditional music. Included here are slow airs, slides, slip jigs and other tunes from Le Govic’s native Brittany, as well as Ireland, Scotland and even Sweden.
While the jazz-laced tunes “Dans Plin” and “Piz Bihan” show off Tristan’s great technical skill, it’s the gentle, slower pieces that really shine. Here, the true voice and soul of his harp can be heard.
“Le Songe d’Orianne” is the sumptuous lament of a mermaid queen, with layers as deep as the ocean she dwells in. On another original tune, “Glaz,” the listener is infused with the soft golden sunlight of the rain-drenched forest that inspired this piece. The album closes with the traditional “Enez Eusa,” a beautiful tune full of profound longing.
The solo instrument nature of Awen allows the listener to enjoy the breadth of sound the Celtic harp can produce, as well as the intricate nuances. Tristan Le Govic has created a gorgeous tapestry. This album is a “must-have” for Celtic harp fans, as well as those seeking an introduction to the “son Telenn,” the sound of the Breton harp.
Without a doubt, Tristan Le Govic is the first Breton to have a name in the small world of Scottish harp players, and therefore to have a career in the country. He is based in Glasgow since three years and teaches the Celtic harp in the city’s schools. Nevertheless, he came back to us this summer for a music tour, travelling across Brittany in order to present his second CD, Awen. It is not easy for any solo instrumentalist who turns up to captivate an audience. But, once more, Tristan succeeds in this challenge. And this, in that case, highlights the excellence of his playing, and even more his maturity as a composer, drawing inspiration from Brittany, Scotland, Ireland and Sweden, mixing traditional and new tunes, combining classical and jazz influences, creating the “Telenn sound” that he claims. Last but not least, the superb recording was signed Pascal Lamour. In every respect, rarely has the Celtic harp been served so well.
A discreet career among a large audience, but already with a recognition distinguished by several prizes and a presence at the most important Celtic harp festivals: Tristan Le Govic entrusted the recording of his second album to Pascal Lamour. The result is remarkable in its purity, its neatness, in the delicacy of the sound. One has to say that Le Govic’s musicianship (in traditional tunes, arrangements, compositions) is as subtle as it is original in his research of the “Telenn sound”: developing melodic lines on deep baseline. “Awen” reveals one of the great in Celtic harp.
His notes are light and clear but Tristan Le Govic, of Lorient, brings depth to music of the Celtic harp. Dasson ur Galon is an exquisite suite for the instrument, filled with very personal tunes, tinged with nostalgia, but blended with cheerful dances (gavotte, laridé). This CD has a rare aesthetic quality, delivered by a perfectionist musician.
Sobriety, clarity, purity are some of the words naturally associated with Tristan Le Govic's skill on the Celtic harp. In his first solo CD, the Lorient-born shares the "Heart's Echo", translation from "Dasson ur Galon". He beats the rythms of the dances of the Pays Vannetais and Pourlet. Ireland, from where he picked up some traditional tunes, and Iceland, for which he composed a melody, also inspire the young instructor.
Tristan Le Govic's first CD affirms an artistic personality of the finest degree in composition and performance. His is a nimble and subtle technique, playing in a variety of tempos and variations. The dance tunes balance intimacy with vivacity. His rendition of O' Carolan 's Eleanor Plunkett recaptures the pathos through contrasting slow playing with detached notes. The March of the King of Laois displays a typical treatment, which provides a striking comparison with the vivacious and triumphal version by The Chieftains.
updated January 2010, contact@tristanlegovic.eu