French Folklore: “Cortège de noce” (“Wedding Procession”) Posted by Hichem on May 28, 2011 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
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 she neither chose nor loved, into her new “Cage dorée” (“golden cage”)…
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The French “Folk” adventure of Malicorne saw the light some 40 years ago, when Gabriel Yacoub, guitarist and singer of the group of Alan Stivell (the “revivalist-in-chief” of la musique celtique) decided to forge son propre chemin (his own path.)
Together with his wife Marie, and joined by other musicians of outstanding talent, he went on to discover the hidden treasures of ancient popular dances and songs throughout the whole country of France, not confining himself to la Bretagne.
Thus started l’aventure of Malicorne, which drew on the old folk musical heritage of the vast régions de France: from la Normandie, le Limousin, to la Bourgogne (Burgundy), and la Franche-Comté…
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Non-official teaser of Malicorne’s “Live à La Rochelle“, performed in last year’s “Francofolies” festival, offers “un avant-goût“(“a foretaste”) of their own musical style
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH6o56tyJjM
Through a “complainte“style(known as “lament” in English) that stands in stark contrast with the epic aspect of “la chanson de geste“, the talentuous falk interpretation of Malicorne turns what is normally a happy “cortège de noce” (“wedding procession”) into a quasi-marche funèbre (funeral march), or at least what appears to be so, in the tearful eyes of a newly-married bride living in medieval France, who is suddenly forced to leave everything behind, in order to settle into her new “Cage dorée” (“golden cage”)…
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* MALICORNE – “CORTÈGE DE NOCE“:
La mariée avance en tête
The bride walks ahead
Baissant les yeux, levant la tête
Looking down, raising her head
Le menestrier s’en va devant
The minstrel walks away forward
Adieu la joie et le bon temps
Bid farewell to happiness and good times
Aux filles du roi elle ressemble
To the daughters of the king she looks like
Elle a couronne sur sa tête…
She has a crown on her head…
Ne l’aura qu’une heure tant seulement
Won’t have but for an hour
Adieu la joie et le bon temps
Bid farewell to happiness and good times
Tout en passant sous cette porte
While going through this door
Elle reçoit un beau pain d’orge
She receives a beautiful barley bread
Mais à votre époux présentez-en!
But to your husband are you to offer it!
Adieu la joie et le bon temps
Bid farewell to happiness and good times
En traversant cette prairie
Going through this meadow
Elle voit danser des jeunes filles
She sees young girls dancing
Ah si j’étais fille à marier
Ah, if I remained an eligible bride
J’aurais encore coeur à chanter
I’d still feel like singing
Belle épousée, on vous demande
Beautiful spouse, you are asked
D’être bien sage, obéissante
To be well-behaved, obedient
Et dans la maison où vous allez
And in the house where you are going
Tâchez de bien nous contenter
Make sure you make us happy
Adieu cousins adieu cousines
Goodbye cousins
Adieu voisins adieu voisines
Goodbye neighbors
Adieu à tous les gens de chez nous
Goodbye to you, our people
Adieu les plus beaux de les jours
Goodbye to the most beautiful of the days
Franche-comté
Franche-comté
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Comments:
Charles Laster:
Admirable combo of French lingo and Celtic style.