Soïg Siberil is one of the best known guitarists of Brittany as well as one of the specialists of Open Tuning. From his first experience with the guitar in the seventies to the master guitarist that he is today, Soïg has deftly incorporated traditional styling with a modern approach. After participating in several groups (Sked, Kornig, Gwerz, Pennou Skoulum, Den, and La Rouchta) and having completed no fewer than nineteen albums, Soïg now leads a very rich solo career. This allows him to concentrate his efforts on compositions with a more traditional base. Internationally renowned, Soïg plays regularly overseas in such places as Scotland, Italy, and the United States. He also participates in large traditional festivals and guitar festivals. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest Celtic artists who possesses the vitality of Breton music across the world
He began his career at the age of eighteen receiving inspiration from folk and blues of the United States including the work of Bob Dylan. During the seventies, while Soïg is living in Brittany he discovered Armorican during a Breton festival. This experience became a revelation for him and, to sate his interest, he traveled to all of the Breton festivals in the region of Glomel.
Also during this period, he met some musicians from the group, Sked, who were in need of a guitarist. Soïg accepted this challenge and thus began his illustrious career.
Throughout the years, Soïg was influenced by other musical forms, which help define his musical style as it is today. For instance, on tour with Kornog and Kemia, he discovered Galician music. Through Erik Marchand, he learns the music of Europe and the East.
In the manner of a true master, Soïg chooses today to share his knowledge. In order to popularize his technique of Open Tuning, he presents practice sessions based on Celtic and Breton music with other musicians.
This book that is presented is a collection of traditional pieces of music with roots in Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, and Galicia. The pieces are taken from a variety of solo and group projects (Gwerz, Orion, Kemia, and Kornog) that have been recorded throughout the years.
The Open Tuning that is most commonly utilized is D A D G A D due to the fact that it corresponds most appropriately to the composition of traditional music. However, other Open Tuning is also used in this collection including that of E A D G A D and D Bb D G Bb D. The pieces reflect a combination of both finger picking and flat-picking.
This book is not a method but a collection of pieces relating to Breton music stemming from different territories, each with some specific qualities. Also it is important to note that the pieces were not originally played on the guitar but were instead adapted from the repertoire of Breton bagpipe music, Scottish bagpipe music, Galician music and from violin pieces primarily originating in Ireland. In playing these pieces with different instruments, it is necessary to change the tuning from D to C for Galician music and D to G for Irish music. Scottish or Breton music may be flat.
Remember in your adventures playing the guitar these words from Soïg Siberil himself, "Go in peace! Take the guitar after a Breton festival or a session in a pub (or during is even better!) and as one says in true Trebrivan: Know the steps of the dance well, warm up the fingers on the neck of the guitar!"
Timeline:
1975: Soïg makes his first contact with the group Sked and consequently records his first album. Also this year, he meets the Irish guitarist, Michael O¹Donnell who introduces him to the chordal D Model. He uses this new sound and incorporates it into the Breton repertoire.
1980: Soïg meets Jaime McMenemy of the Battlefield Band and founds the group Kornog with Christian Lemaitre and Jean Michael Veillon. With this group, he travels Europe and the United States and records five albums. During this same time period, he turns himself towards Breton music. Along with Patrick Molard, Jacky Molard, Erik Marchand and Youenn Le Bihan, he founds Gwerz and records three albums. Gwerz centers its repertoire in Brittany drawing its inspiration from the heritage of Irish music. By the end of the eighties, the two groups, Gwerz and Kornog, fuse together to form a Breton group of music and dance called Pennou Skolum. In playing with the essential themes of the Breton repertoire, the group incorporates the uileann pipe, the transverse flute, the violin and the guitar.
1987: Along with Jacky Molard, Soïg founds the group Den in which they play instruments specific to traditional music with electro-acoustic rhythm. However, after this work with Den, Soïg turns from the electric guitar to the acoustic guitar in order to advance his work in Open Tuning.
1989: Soïg forms a new group called Trio Kemia with Franck Lebloas and Alain Rougette. The original compositions add a flavor of Celtic music through an adaptation of chords. During this time, he also tours with Alain Pennec and in a group dedicated to the music of the country of the Gauls in La Rouchta, with the singers Gilbert Bourdin and Laurent Jouin, and Fanch Landreau on violin.
1993: Soïg releases a solo disc titled "Digor" on the Gwerz-Pladenn label, which is the label of Erik Marchand. He also works in a duo with Jacques Pellen.
1994: Along with Kevin Burke, Johnny Cunningham, and Christian Lemaitre, Soïg tours the United States with the Celtic Fiddle Festival. He also wins acclaim from the Academy of Charles Cros by his participation in the album, "Les Ours du Scorff".
1995: Soïg participates in the "Celtic Guitar" compilation of Sony music taken from the album Alcoves of Alain Pennec of Keltia Music.
1996: Soïg travels in England with the "Celtic Fiddle Tour". He releases the solo disc "Entre Ardoise et Granit" on the Maen Glas label (the reincarnation of the Gwerz-Pladenn label) and a new CD "Ours du Scorff".
1997: Soïg tours with Orion in the "Celtic Fiddle Fetival" and participates in the disc "Kerden". He also begins work on scores for Celtic guitar.
1999: A new solo album, entitled, "Gwenojenn," is released.
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