Érik Marchand (born 1955) is a Breton traditional singer and player of the treujenn-gaol (Breton clarinet). Although born in Paris, his family was of Breton origin, hailing from Quelneuc, Brittany.
Influenced by the music of Manuel Kerjean, Marchand moved to his family's homeland and studied traditional music and the Breton language. He became deeply involved with traditional Breton singing, including the gwerz, a traditional lament. In the 1980s he helped form a traditional music group called which released three albums. In the 1980s Marchand also began to collaborate with oudist Thierry Robin, producing a fusion of Celtic and Arabic motifs influenced by jazz.
Discography
1982 : Chants à danser de Haute-Bretagne, with Gilbert Bourdin ha Christian Dautel, Dastum 1985 : Gwerz, nouvelle musique de Bretagne, Dastum/Gwerz 1985 : Chants à répondre de Haute-Bretagne, with Gilbert Bourdin and Christian Dautel, Le Chasse-Marée 1988 : Gwerz : Au-delà, Escalibur. Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1988 1989 : Gwerz Penmarc’h, with Cabestan, Le Chasse-Marée 1990 : An henchoù treuz, chants du Centre-Bretagne, gant Thierry Robin, AMTA/Ocora, Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1990 1991 : Trio Erik Marchand : An tri Breur, Silex, ffff Télérama 1991 : Musique têtue gant le Quintet de Clarinettes, Silex, ffff Télérama 1993 : Gwerz live, Gwerz Pladenn 1993 : Bazh du with le Quintet de Clarinettes, Silex. Diapason d’Or 1993 : Erik Marchand et le Taraf de Caransebes : Sag an tan ell, Silex. Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1995 ha ffff Télérama 1997 : Fresu, Pellen, Marchand trio : Condaghes, Silex, Choc de la Musique 1998 : Erik Marchand et le Taraf de Caransebes : Dor, BMG, ffff Télérama, Choc de la Musique, R 10 de Répertoires 2001 : Kan, gant l’ensemble de Mallakaster d’Albanie, Le Tenore de Santu Predu (Sardaigne), Fransy Gonzales-Calvo (Galice) ha Bassey Koné (Mali), fff Télérama 2003 : La Route de la Rose, Attitudes 2003 : Le Requiem d’Anna Ac’hmatova 2003 Ephéméra Jacques Pellen Naïve 2004 PRUNA Erik Marchand et les Balkaniks Harmonia Mundi 2741260 2013 Ukronia
Decorations
Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters (2016)