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Tag Archives: la bretagne

A Very Happy French Accordion Posted by on Feb 9, 2013

Out of the Côtes-d’Armor in the Brittany Peninsula, bordering the shores of Saint-Malo, from whence hailed and sailed the seafaring ancestors of the legendary Surcouf, “le roi des corsaires“ (“the King of Corsairs”), came up a cheerful tune. A highly melodic theme, it revolved around a local demoiselle whom everybody called “Marie la dondaine.”  So far, so good. But what’s a “dondaine“, anyway? Is it…

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French Folklore: “Cortège de noce” (“Wedding Procession”) Posted by on May 28, 2011

Imagine for a moment the swirling cauldron of emotions lying within the soul of a potential “runaway bride”, one living in the times of medieval France, who is suddenly forced to leave everything behind, family and friends, walking in a long “cortège de noce” (“wedding procession”), which ultimately leads her to settle with a husband…

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