Museum Musica

France, 1972, Celtic rock / Breton Celtic folk / Celtic folk

Alan Stivell – À l’Olympia: Probably the best interpretation of the Child ballad “The Trees They Grow High” that I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard some amazing renditions. What else can I say? The harp playing is masterful, especially on tracks A5 and A6. Just astonishing that anyone could evoke such magic out of an instrument. The joy of the crowd is palpable, and near the end I got the feeling that if Stivell didn’t play one more song, they were going to riot… but in a good way. Like all join hands and lock arms and doing a massive traditional Celtic dance.