François-Marie Luzel (1826 -1895)

F-M. Luzel  (1826 -1895)

François Marie Luzel (1826 -1895), was born in Plouaret, near Lannion. He studied at the Collège Royal in Rennes. He gave up his study of medicine. He was employed as an office clerk at Nantes Prefecture when he made the acquaintance of the folklore researcher Adolphe Orain in 1858.
Thanks to the support of another Breton, Ernest Renan, he received a grant from the Ministry of Education and was officially assigned the mission of collecting ancient manuscripts in Breton language. Thus he was able to gather all sorts of tales, songs and plays, especially from a certain Marguerite Philippe, of Pluzunet (22). He started with the publication of the gathered good as from 1868.
In 1872, as a member of the 'Association bretonne "Kendalc'h" in Saint Brieux, he read to the assistance a text accusing La Villemarqué of publishing, 33 years earlier, songs that he had outrageously modified. A controversial ensued: the Association objected to the text being published, so that Luzel had to do it at his own expense.
The debate was to go on for more than a century. In a thesis expounded at the Faculty of Rennes in 1960, the linguist Francis Gourvil did not hesitate to accuse La Villemarqué of having completely forged - and not collected - most pieces of the "Barzhaz Breizh". More recently, the musicologist Donatien Laurent proved that, if many songs were modified or recombined, barring some rare exceptions, all of them had been gathered or recopied by La Villemarqué himself.
Later on, Luzel became a political chronicler in the republican newspaper, "L'Avenir de Morlaix" (Morlaix tomorrow), then justice of the peace in Daoulas. In 1881, he found at last a steady position as an archivist at the Finistere Departmental Archives in Quimper. There he made the acquaintance of Anatole Le Braz who was a teacher at the Secondary school of that town. He made of him his disciple and another collector of tales that were published in French. Le Braz also made researches on ancient Breton theatre. In 1888, he vainly interceded with Renan on behalf of Luzel that he might be appointed as a teacher of Breton language.
Luzel was elected to the Town Council as a Republican and became a member of the "Société des antiquités du Finistère", whose President was...La Villemarqué (!).
Both the brand new Republican and the Ancien Régime viscount died in 1895.

Luzel's way of working
Concerning the laments and the songs (in Breton: gwerzioù ha sonioù) he collected, Luzel endeavoured to transcribe the exact form in which he had heard them for the sake of scientific accuracy.
As for the tales, his conception of scientific accuracy was different. It was to him above all essential to preserve the topic and the framework of the narrative. He jotted down a synopsis of the tale he had heard and recopied it once he had come home. On a further stage, he would translate his notes into French with a view to their publishing, whereby he made a point of sticking to the idiosyncrasies of the Breton language.
His biggest shortcoming was, alas, that he omitted to note the tunes of the songs he heard. The musician Maurice Duhamel devoted himself to filling this deficiency, between 1902 and 1912, whereby he addressed different singers from those auditioned by Luzel.

Works of Luzel in Breton.
"Bepred Breizad" (Breton forever) Morlaix 1865: a collection of bilingual poems re-edited in 1943 undet the title "Ma c'horn-bro" (my country) "Gwerzioù Breiz Izel" (Complaintes de Basse-Bretagne -Laments of Lower Brittany) in two books -Lorient 1868 and1874.
"Sonioù Breiz Izel" (Chants de Basse Bretagne -Songs of Lower Brittany) 2 books - Paris 1890 and 1891 "Kontadennoù ar bobl e Breiz Izel" (Contes populaires de Basse Bretagne - Folk tales of Lower Brittany) - Quimper 1939.
He wrote furthermore works in French: Sainte Tryphine et le roi Arthur, (1863), De l'authenticité des chants du Barzaz-Breiz -About the authenticity of the Barzhaz Breizh (1872), Veillées bretonnes, Légendes chrétiennes de Basse Bretagne (1881), La vie de Saint Gwennolé (1889) as well as the French translations of the aforesaid books.

Most of the information above was found in the article Wikipédia dedicated to Luzel (in Breton). The subject matter apparently causes some people to easily loose their self-control:
The author of the article quotes a remark made by Françoise Morvan in her book "Les Contes Bretons de Luzel", that retranslates from the Breton as follows:
" ...He chose to adopt a style of writing that is diametrically opposed to the rigid rules set by La Villemarqué. He even denies him the right to prompt people to subject themselves to a 'refined' language, whose purity is "against nature" (in Breton: 'glanoc'h a ouenn' where 'ouenn' means 'race').
The Wikipedia commentator adds: "And there is only a short way from "race purity" to "Nazism"...(?!)
It is not irrelevant to repeat here what we wrote when comparing the Luzel and La Villemarqué versions of "Sir Nann":
La Villemarqué's text avoids the cumbersome and needless repetitions that are found in Luzel's version and it is far more balanced, elegant and poetic with its touching conclusion!
Even if part of these merits were due to changes made by La Villemarqué, were his detractor not better inspired when he would credit him with outstanding literary skills, instead of outraging his memory, hiding behind a language that La Villemarqué made a point to serve and never betrayed?

Songs collected by Luzel with their counterparts in the Barzhaz Breizh

Songs collected by Luzel Equivalents in the Barzhaz Breizh
An Aotrou 'r C'hont (1) (The Lord Count (1))
An Aotrou 'r C'hont (2) (The Lord Count (2))
An Aotrou 'r C'hont (3) (The Lord Count (3))
An Aotrou Nann (Lord Nann)
An Aotrou ar Gerwenn (1) (Lord Whiteborough (1))
An Aotrou ar Gerwenn (2) (Lord Whiteborough (2))
An Aotrou Rosmadek (Lord Rosmadec)
Rosmadek ha Baron Huet (Rosmadec and Baron Huet)
An daou vanac'h (1) (The two Friars (1))
An daou vanac'h (2) (The two Friars (2))
An daou vanac'h (3) (The two Friars (3))
An daou vreur (1) (The two Brothers (1))
An daou vreur (2) (The two Brothers (2))
An hini oa aet... (1) (The man who went... (1))
An hini oa aet... (2) (The man who went... (2))
An hini oa aet... (3) (The man who went... (3))
An hini oa aet... (4) (The man who went... (4))
Annaik Kozik (Annette Cozic)
Ar Bleizi-Mor (The Sea wolves)
Ar breur hag ar c'hoar (1) (The Siblings (1))
Ar breur hag ar c'hoar (2) (The Siblings (2))
Ar breur hag ar c'hoar (3) (The Siblings (3))
Ar bugel koar (1) (The Wax Child (1))
Ar bugel koar (2) (The Wax Child (2))
Ar c'hemener hag ar gorred (The Tailor & the Dwarfs)
Ar marc'heger hag ar verjelenn (Knight & Shepherdess)
Ar plac'h he daou bried (1) (A twice wed girl (1))
Ar plac'h he daou bried (2) (A twice wed girl (2))
Ar plac'h he daou bried (3) (A twice wed girl (3))
Ar plac'h he daou bried (4 & 5) (A twice wed girl (4 & 5))
Fanchig Morvan (Francis Morvan)
Fantig ar Pikart (1) (Francess Picart (1))
Fantig ar Pikart (2) (Fanny Picart (2))
Fantig ar Pikart (3) (Fanny Picart (3))
Fantic Bourdel (Fanny Bourdel)
Fontenella (La Fontenelle)
Franseza Kozik (Fanny Cozic)
Iannik Skolan (1) (John Scolan (1))
Iannik Skolan (2) (John Scolan (2))
Iannik ar Bon-Garçon (Yannik Ar Bon Garçon)
Janed ar Iudek (1) (Jeanne le Yudek (1))
Janed ar Iudek (2) (Jeanne le Yudek (2))
Janed ar Wern (1) (Joan le Guern (1))
Janed ar Wern (2) (Joan le Guern (2))
Janedig ar Rouz (1 et 2) (Jenny Le Roux (1 et 2))
Janedig ar Sorserez (1 et 2) (Joan the Witch (1 et 2))
Kloarek Lambaul (The Clerk of Lamballe)
Kloarek Laoudour (The Clerk of Laoudour)
Lezobre ha Morian ar Roue (1) (Les Aubrays & the King's Blackamoor (1))
Lezobre ha Morian ar Roue (2) (Les Aubrays & the King's Blackamoor (2))
Lezobre ha Morian ar Roue (3) (Les Aubrays & the King's Blackamoor (3))
Lezobre ha Morian ar Roue (4) (Les Aubrays & the King's Blackamoor (4))
Marc'harid Lauranz (1) (Margaret Laurent (1))
Marc'harid Lauranz (2) (Margaret Laurent (2))
Marivonnig (1-3-4-5) (Marivonig (1-3-4-5))
Marivonnig (5) (Marivonig (5))
Markiz Trede (Marquess Coatredez)
Markizes Guerrand (Marchioness Guérand)
Marv al Laouenanig - 1st tune (The Wren's Death (1))
Marv al Laouenanig - 2nd tune (The Wren's Death (2))
Marv al Laouenanig - 3rd tune (The Wren's Death (3))
Marv al Laouenanig - 4th tune (complete lyrics) (The Wren's Death (4))
Penheres Keroulas (The Heiress of Keroulas)
Perinaïk Ar Mignon (Perrine Le Mignon)
Renea Ar Glaz -1st version (Renée le Glaz 1)
Renea Ar Glaz -2nd version (Renée le Glaz 2)
Reneadig C'hlaz (Laterre & Gourvil)
Rozmelchon (1) (Rozmelchon (1))
Rozmelchon (2) (Rozmelchon (2))
Rozmelchon (3) (Rozmelchon (3))
Santez Henori (Saint Honora)
Silvestrig (1) (Silvestric (1))
Silvestrig (2) (Silvestric (2))
Silvestrig (3) (Silvestric (3))
Silvestrig (4) (Silvestric (4))
Yann Ar Gall (Jean Le Gall)
An Aotrou Nann (Sir Nann)
An Aotrou Nann (Sir Nann)
An Aotrou Nann (Sir Nann)
An Aotrou Nann (Sir Nann)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Maronad an Ao Nevet (Lament for Lord Nevet)
Maronad an Ao Nevet (Lament for Lord Nevet)
An tri manac'h ruz (The Three Red Friars)
An tri manac'h ruz (The Three Red Friars)
An tri manac'h ruz (The Three Red Friars)
Gwreg ar C'hroazour (The Crusader's wife )
Gwreg ar C'hroazour (The Crusader's wife)
Ar plac'h dimeet gant Satan (The Bride of Satan)
Ar plac'h dimeet gant Satan (The Bride of Satan)
Ar plac'h dimeet gant Satan (The Bride of Satan)
Ar plac'h dimeet gant Satan (The Bride Satan)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Alan al Louarn (Alan the Fox)
Lez Breizh (Lez Breizh: brother and sister)
Lez Breizh (Lez Breizh: brother and sister)
Lez Breizh (Lez Breizh: brother and sister)
Ar rannoù (The Series)
Ar rannoù (The Series)
Ar c'horred (The Gnomes)
Gwreg ar C'hroazour (The Crusader's Wife)
Ar breur mager (The Foster Brother)
Ar breur mager (The Foster Brother)
Ar breur mager (The Foster Brother)
Ar breur mager (The Foster Brother)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Markiz Gwerand (Marquess Guérand)
Fontanella (La Fontenelle)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Yannig Skolan: Truez an ene (Yannick Scolan: the Pardon of the Soul)
Yannig Skolan: Truez an ene (Yannick Scolan: the Pardon of the Soul)
Gwazh Aotroù Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Vassal)
Jenovefa Rustefan (Geneviève de Rustéfan)
Jenovefa Rustefan (Geneviève de Rustéfan)
Ar plac'h dimeet gant Satan (The Bride of Satan)
Ar plac'h dimeet gant Satan (The Bride of Satan)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Loiza hag Abalard (Héloïse & Abélard)
Markiz Gwerand (The Marquess of Guérand)
Markiz Gwerand (The Marquess of Guérand)
Lez Breizh (Lez Breizh: The King's Blackamoor)
Lez Breizh (Lez Breizh: The King's Blackamoor)
Lez Breizh (Lez Breizh: The King's Blackamoor)
Lez Breizh (Lez Breizh: The King's Blackamoor)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Itron Varia Folgoat (Our Lady of Folgoët)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Markiz Gwerand (Marquess Guérand)
Marzhin Barzh (Merlin theBard)
Marzhin Barzh (Merlin the Bard)
Marzhin Barzh (Merlin the Bard)
Marzhin Barzh (Merlin the Bard)
Penn-herez Keroulaz (The Heiress of Keroulas)
Emzivadez Lannuon (The Orphan of Lannion)
Azenorig C'hlaz (Azénor The Pale)
Azenorig C'hlaz (Azénor The Pale)
Azenorig C'hlaz (Azénor The Pale)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Filhorez Gwesklen (Du Guesclin's Godchild)
Tour an Arvor (The Tower of Armor)
Distro euz-a Vro-Zaoz (Return from England)
Distro euz-a Vro-Zaoz (Return from England)
Distro euz-a Vro-Zaoz (Return from England)
Distro euz-a Vro-Zaoz (Return from England)
Pardon Folgoat (The Folgoet Pardon)


Galleg