Erik Marchand

Marchand and the Celtic Procession of Jacques Pellen in 2007

Erik Marchand (2 October 1955 – 30 October 2025) was a French traditional singer and player of the treujenn-gaol (Breton clarinet). He was born in Paris while his family were 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 Gwerz which released three albums. In the 1980s he also began to collaborate with oudist Thierry Robin, producing a fusion of Celtic and Arabic motifs influenced by jazz.

Marchand died on 30 October 2025 at the age of 70.

Discography

Decorations

References

  1. ↑ L'essentiel 2006 "Aux côtés de Bashung et Camille, se produiront aussi des musiciens du groupe Lo'Jo, le guitariste Sébastien Martel, le chanteur breton Érik Marchand et de nombreux artistes libanais parmi lesquels le trompettiste Ibrahim Maalouf et la chorégraphe Lami Safieddine."
  2. ↑ "Décès du musicien breton Erik Marchand, « artiste à la carrière immense »". Le Télégramme. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Nomination dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres janvier 2016 - Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication". www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016.