En Dro polka

A very simple but nice En Dro. First recorded by Skolvan for the Dans sampler from 1988. This was the album that really turned me on to Breton music.

And yes: the second part is only played once. No repeats!

The tempo is really too fast

Huh? What are you talking about? Which tempo?

I assume this is the tempo of the download midi and I guess that has been given the default tempo for a polka. I played an En Dro at a session a few weeks back at a fairly leisurely speed and an experienced dancer said it should have been a bit slower … so all suggestions of tempo for these will be most welcome 🙂

The proper tempo for An Dros (the Kas a-Barh is a wee bit slower and has a stonger emphasis on the third beat) would be around 92-95 (crotchets in 2/4). Never ever go above 100!

Hi Mario, this An Dro is known as ‘An Anglezed bonetoù ruz’ Slightly different versions are known (eg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J53TgNy6jXI)

play video

Unfortunately, you haven’t placed the bars where they are conventionally written for such a dance.
Here’s the reviewed ABC:

X: 1
T: An Anglezed bonetoù ruz
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: En Dro
K: E min
B |: e2f2 g3f | gfeg f2ef | g2fg e3g | fede f3B :|
e2f2 g3g | f2ef d4 | e2dc B3e | f2g2 e2B2 | e2dc B3e | f2g2 e3 ||
Note the two-bar bridge and that the last 4 bars are actually 2 repeated bars. This type of form is common to several Breton ring dances.

The Dañs - compil’ CD, produced by Veillon, is a great sampler alright.
Skolvan’s set of three an droioù is a particularly beautiful track on it. Does any one know the names or origins of the last two?
This one is said to be from the Lorient region.