Kornog
| Kornog | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brittany |
| Genres | Breton folk music |
| Years active | 1981–1987 1999–2006 |
| Labels | Green Linnet, Keltia Musique, An Naer |
| Associated acts | Pennoù Skoulm |
| Past members |
Jamie McMenemy Christian LeMaitre Jean-Michel Veillon Soïg Siberil Gilles Le Bigot Nicolas Quemener |
Kornog is a Breton folk music band formed in the 1980s. They are notable in that they have been perhaps the only Breton band to have had a serious touring presence in the United States, so for many in North America, Kornog defines Breton music. The word "kornog" means “west” in the Breton language.
Unique to Breton groups, the band's approach is intended for listening and not specifically for the traditional “Fest Noz” dance circuit, and contains the Scots ballads of bouzouki and mandolin player Jamie McMenemy. The group was active from 1982 to 1987, then reunited again in 1999 and in 2000 released a new CD, Korong.
The group still plays together occasionally, and some of the members play together regularly in duo formats (2010 has seen the first tour of duo Siberil-McMenemy), although for the most part they have been superseded by the offshoot group Pennoù Skoulm.
Most of the members of Kornog are in the band Pennoù Skoulm. Like Kornog, Pennoù Skoulm has likewise existed in two separate iterations, first active from 1982 to 1990, releasing their first recording in 1985, and then regrouping in 2008 and releasing their newest recording Trinkañ in 2009. Pennoù Skoulm remains active as a performing group, occasionally joined by Irish musician Andy Irvine.
Kornog's final performance (to date) was in 2006.
Scotsman Jamie McMenemy (vocals, bouzouki, mandolin, cittern) had previously toured and recorded with the Battlefield Band. While touring Brittany he encountered a traditional “Fest Noz” dance music performance and was immediately enthralled. He relocated to Brittany in 1979. Two years later, he recorded a solo album “The Road to Kerrigouarch”, joined by guitarist Soïg Siberil and violinist Christian LeMaitre. Shortly thereafter Kornog was formed.
Christian Lemaitre hails from the large Breton expatriate community in Paris. He began playing fiddle in Paris before moving to Brittany, his ancestral home. Following Kornog's initial breakup, Lemaitre also performed and recorded with the noted Fest-Noz group Storvan. He has also toured and recorded several times with fiddlers Kevin Burke and Johnny Cunningham as Celtic Fiddle Festival, mostly reworking material from Kornog and Storvan. The latest Kornog release, Korong, also featured Jacky Molard on violin and octave-violin. Molard is a regular member of Pennoù Skoulm.
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