495:
362:
168:
575:
590:
Unable to write music, Botrel could only publish his work by singing the tune to a professional musician who would write it down. Initially he was denied credit for the melody of his most famous song when the transcriber Eugène
Feautrier asserted that he was the "author" of the music. Another claimed
371:
Even before he opens his mouth you are interested and attracted by his noble and frank bearing. His features are of classical regularity, his complexion pale, his forehead wide and high like that of a deep thinker. Beneath a thick moustache one sees clean-cut lips, and his eyes, keen and penetrating,
509:
He had already published a collection of military songs before the war in 1912 as "Coups de
Clairon". A British writer noted "It is a noble work, and one cannot think of another poet, here or in France, so abundantly equipped for its performance. Botrel has no counterpart in Britain, so it were vain
597:
that "from the moment you yourself compose the melody, even if you dictate it to a musician you remain the sole author of your chanson." From that point on he insisted on sole credit, but this produced some resentment from musicians who believed their contributions were being denied. It was also
325:), was apparently chosen because 'falaise' rhymes with 'Paimpolaise'. It has often been noted that there is no cliff in the town. Nevertheless the nearby Pointe de Guiben has been marketed as the cliff described in the song. The choice of Paimpol probably derived from the popularity of
414:
said "While I read Botrel's verses...I compare myself to a sick man dragging his walking stick along the suburb of a city and stopping now and then to listen to the young voices of the children singing. Ah, Botrel's voice is high and true and clear!."
486:, the Royalist Catholic rebellion against the French Revolution, who buys the handkerchief for his girl. It inspired a local manufacturer to create red Cholet handkerchiefs, the popularity of which boosted the local textile industry.
33:
506:. Turned down for service in the French army because of his age, he attempted to enlist with Belgian forces, but was again rejected. He decided to work for the war effort by writing and performing patriotic songs.
547:
Botrel's wife Léna died in 1916. In 1918, he remarried, to Marie-Elisabeth "Maïlise" Schreiber. He had two daughters with her, the elder of whom, named Léna after his first wife, married the writer
464:
created number of photographic tableaux representing the scenes and stories of his songs and plays, which were widely sold and circulated as postcards with Botrel's signature.
593:
291:
474:
Botrel was politically conservative, a
Royalist and a devout Roman Catholic. Many of his later songs celebrated these values, and appealed to popular patriotism. The song
562:, was published after his death. His daughter Léna later wrote extra chapters to complete the story of his life. A monument to him was erected in Paimpol designed by
524:
He travelled throughout the front line performing to the troops. The patriotic songs were also published as poems for a children's book promoting the war effort,
829:
521:
he was authorised by the
Minister of War "to enter all military depots, camps and hospitals for the purpose of reciting and singing his patriotic poems."
438:) in Pont-Aven, the first of the music festivals that have since become common in Brittany. In 1909, he established a permanent monument to Breton writer
456:
His wife Léna often sang duets with him, and regularly appeared in publicity images with him in traditional Breton costume (though in fact she was from
418:
Botrel gave up his day job to become a professional singer-songwriter. When not performing in Paris, he lived in
Brittany, initially taking a house in
844:
294:
railway company. He continued to appear on stage and to write and perform songs. In 1891 he met and married singer Hélène Lugton, known as Léna.
142:(14 September 1868 – 28 July 1925) was a French singer-songwriter, poet and playwright. He is best known for his popular songs about his native
517:
containing songs for the soldiers. In 1915 he was appointed as official "Chansonnier des Armées", or "Bard of the Armies". According to the
310:
became his signature song – a lilting ballad about a Breton sailor fishing in
Iceland lamenting his separation from the fishing village of
819:
283:
As a teenager he became involved in amateur theatricals, performing on stage in plays, and writing songs. His first published song
232:
834:
272:
as a child, since his parents had moved to Paris. He joined them in the capital at the age of seven. His native language was the
204:
314:
and especially a
Paimpolese girl (la Paimpolaise). The song ends tragically with his death at sea, her being his final thought.
445:
In addition to songwriting, Botrel tried his hand at drama, writing and performing in a number of plays, including an original
211:
185:
839:
218:
251:
566:. It shows the Paimpolaise gazing out to sea from the imaginary cliff. There is also a statue of him in Pont-Aven.
540:
in the 1980s. At this time some of his lyrics were translated into
English by G.E. Morrison and Edgar Preston as
200:
189:
750:
290:
Botrel shelved his theatrical ambitions, joining the army for five years and then working as a clerk for the
809:
721:
667:
471:
movement. In 1904, he and Léna attended the Pan-Celtic
Congress in Caernarfon as Breton representatives.
824:
784:
32:
814:
225:
738:
401:
392:
club. With the support of
Parisian intellectuals a collection of Botrel's songs was published as
178:
331:
699:
Original French: "les adorable chansons de Botrel font pousser des genêts quand on les chante".
623:
306:(The Paimpol Girl) to great acclaim from the audience, launching himself as a popular singer.
269:
563:
804:
799:
598:
objected that songs and arrangements that were essentially in the style of modern Parisian
411:
345:
inspired a number of other sentimental songs which idealised Breton towns and regions. In
8:
604:
were being marketed as "Breton" music. Botrel and Léna also made a number of recordings.
513:
After his rejection for military service Botrel started a monthly publication entitled
410:
wrote, "Botrel's adorable verses make the broom-flowers sprout when one sings them".
537:
583:
461:
317:
Botrel only visited Paimpol in 1897, after he wrote the song. The song's refrain,
579:
453:, in which the detective solves a murder while travelling incognito in Brittany.
446:
439:
397:
379:
277:
548:
335:, which is set in the town. The song was a central feature of the repertoire of
276:
dialect, though almost all his songs are in standard French, and he learned the
518:
407:
273:
336:
793:
626:, Monument to Theodore Botrel], fr.topic-topos.com. Accessed 2 December 2022.
468:
350:
710:
A Book of Mad Celts: John Wickens and the Celtic Congress of Caernarfon 1904
494:
339:
until his death in 1941. Mayol also showcased many of Botrel's later songs.
552:
384:
268:, Botrel was the son of a blacksmith. He was left with his grandmother in
503:
483:
326:
151:
419:
302:
One evening in 1895, standing in for another act, he performed his song
457:
361:
192: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
423:
102:
87:
167:
143:
600:
311:
98:
785:
Botrel biography (in French) with excerpts from his performances
739:
The Military Minstrel of France – Theodore Botrel – Breton Poet
591:
credit as "arranger". Botrel was advised by specialists at the
479:
574:
400:. The book was highly praised and was awarded a prize by the
265:
70:
502:
Botrel was an enthusiastic supporter of the French cause in
582:
of Caernarfon, 1904 (in the background, the photographer
594:
Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique
755:, greatest different.com. Accessed 2 December 2022.
558:Botrel died in 1925. His incomplete autobiography,
741:, greatwardifferent.com. Accessed 2 December 2022.
388:club, though he most often performed at the rival
154:he became France's official "Bard of the Armies".
536:(about a machine-gun). The latter was revived by
460:). She also co-wrote some songs. Botrel's friend
396:in 1898, with a preface by the Breton folklorist
382:and the intellectual coterie associated with the
365:Botrel's publicity made much of his noble looks.
791:
769:Satie the Bohemian: From Cabaret to Concert Hall
551:. The younger, Janick, was the mother of singer
735:T.P.'s Journal of Great Deeds of the Great War
467:Botrel also became involved in the burgeoning
349:(Jesus Among the Bretons) he implies that the
18:French singer-songwriter, poet and playwright
724:, ville-cholet.fr. Accessed 2 December 2022.
653:, Editions Ouest France, 2000, p. 4; passim.
830:Members of the Ligue de la patrie française
528:. Botrel's most famous wartime songs were
31:
686:"Theodore Botrel: the Poet of Brittany",
532:(the nickname of the French bayonet) and
426:. He edited the journal of popular verse
252:Learn how and when to remove this message
573:
493:
489:
360:
287:(The Little Bagpipe) was not a success.
682:
680:
394:Chansons de chez nous (Songs Bretonnes)
792:
771:, Oxford University Press, 1999, p.221
763:
761:
663:
661:
659:
645:
643:
641:
619:
617:
677:
190:adding citations to reliable sources
161:
37:Botrel in traditional Breton costume
758:
635:Michelin Guide to Brittany, p. 309.
498:Botrel performing to troops in 1915
369:quoted the following description: "
140:Jean-Baptiste-Théodore-Marie Botrel
112:Singer-songwriter, playwright, poet
53:Jean-Baptiste-Théodore-Marie Botrel
13:
733:Edgar Preston, "Theodore Botrel",
656:
638:
614:
378:Botrel attracted the attention of
14:
856:
845:Lycée Fénelon Sainte-Marie alumni
778:
297:
820:19th-century French male singers
752:Les Livres Rose pour la Jeunesse
578:Botrel and his wife Léna at the
526:Les Livres Rose pour la Jeunesse
166:
744:
651:Ce barde errant Théodore Botrel
586:and the linguist Paul Barbier.)
177:needs additional citations for
835:French male singer-songwriters
727:
715:
702:
693:
629:
569:
323:"I love Paimpol and its cliff"
319:"J'aime Paimpol et sa falaise"
146:, of which the most famous is
1:
690:, 1911, vol xxxix, pp. 33–42.
668:"Botrel, The Trench Laureate"
422:, then moving permanently to
482:) is about a soldier in the
7:
712:, Gomer Press, 2000, p. 38.
560:souvenirs d'un barde errant
476:Le Mouchoir rouge de Cholet
10:
861:
624:monument-a-theodore-botrel
840:French singer-songwriters
478:(The Red Handkerchief of
432:"Fête des Fleurs d'Ajonc"
372:also have a faraway look.
124:
116:
108:
94:
77:
57:
47:
42:
30:
23:
607:
430:and in 1905 founded the
436:"Gorse Flower Festival"
356:
157:
767:Steven Moore Whiting,
587:
510:to seek comparisons."
499:
375:
347:Jésus chez les bretons
43:Background information
577:
515:Les chants du Bivouac
497:
490:World War I and after
451:Le Mystere de Kéravel
364:
353:will be in Brittany.
292:Paris-Lyon-Marseille
186:improve this article
810:Poets from Brittany
737:, 27 February 1915
270:Saint-Méen-le-Grand
588:
500:
402:Académie française
376:
367:The New York Times
90:, Brittany, France
73:, Brittany, France
825:People from Dinan
688:The Irish Monthly
649:Philippe Bervas,
542:Songs of Brittany
332:Pêcheur d'Islande
262:
261:
254:
236:
201:"Théodore Botrel"
134:
133:
68:14 September 1868
852:
772:
765:
756:
748:
742:
731:
725:
719:
713:
708:Marion Loffler,
706:
700:
697:
691:
684:
675:
665:
654:
647:
636:
633:
627:
621:
553:Renaud Detressan
538:Pierre Desproges
428:La Bonne Chanson
329:'s recent novel
257:
250:
246:
243:
237:
235:
194:
170:
162:
127:
84:
67:
65:
50:
35:
21:
20:
860:
859:
855:
854:
853:
851:
850:
849:
815:Cabaret singers
790:
789:
781:
776:
775:
766:
759:
749:
745:
732:
728:
722:Ville de Cholet
720:
716:
707:
703:
698:
694:
685:
678:
674:, 18 July 1915.
666:
657:
648:
639:
634:
630:
622:
615:
610:
580:Celtic Congress
572:
492:
447:Sherlock Holmes
440:Auguste Brizeux
412:François Coppée
398:Anatole Le Braz
359:
300:
285:Le Petit Biniou
280:later in life.
278:Breton language
258:
247:
241:
238:
195:
193:
183:
171:
160:
137:
125:
86:
82:
69:
63:
61:
48:
38:
26:
25:Théodore Botrel
19:
12:
11:
5:
858:
848:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
817:
812:
807:
802:
788:
787:
780:
779:External links
777:
774:
773:
757:
743:
726:
714:
701:
692:
676:
672:New York Times
655:
637:
628:
612:
611:
609:
606:
571:
568:
534:Ma P'tite Mimi
519:New York Times
491:
488:
442:in Pont-Aven.
408:Edmond Rostand
358:
355:
343:La Paimpolaise
308:La Paimpolaise
304:La Paimpolaise
299:
298:La Paimpolaise
296:
260:
259:
174:
172:
165:
159:
156:
148:La Paimpolaise
136:Musical artist
135:
132:
131:
128:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
110:
106:
105:
96:
92:
91:
85:(aged 56)
79:
75:
74:
59:
55:
54:
51:
45:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
24:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
857:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
797:
795:
786:
783:
782:
770:
764:
762:
754:
753:
747:
740:
736:
730:
723:
718:
711:
705:
696:
689:
683:
681:
673:
669:
664:
662:
660:
652:
646:
644:
642:
632:
625:
620:
618:
613:
605:
603:
602:
596:
595:
585:
584:Émile Hamonic
581:
576:
567:
565:
564:Pierre Lenoir
561:
556:
554:
550:
545:
543:
539:
535:
531:
527:
522:
520:
516:
511:
507:
505:
496:
487:
485:
481:
477:
472:
470:
469:Pan-Celticist
465:
463:
462:Émile Hamonic
459:
454:
452:
448:
443:
441:
437:
433:
429:
425:
421:
416:
413:
409:
405:
403:
399:
395:
391:
390:Le Chien-Noir
387:
386:
381:
373:
368:
363:
354:
352:
351:second coming
348:
344:
340:
338:
334:
333:
328:
324:
320:
315:
313:
309:
305:
295:
293:
288:
286:
281:
279:
275:
271:
267:
256:
253:
245:
242:December 2022
234:
231:
227:
224:
220:
217:
213:
210:
206:
203: –
202:
198:
197:Find sources:
191:
187:
181:
180:
175:This section
173:
169:
164:
163:
155:
153:
149:
145:
141:
129:
123:
119:
115:
111:
107:
104:
100:
97:
93:
89:
80:
76:
72:
60:
56:
52:
46:
41:
34:
29:
22:
16:
768:
751:
746:
734:
729:
717:
709:
704:
695:
687:
671:
650:
631:
599:
592:
589:
559:
557:
549:Emile Danoën
546:
541:
533:
529:
525:
523:
514:
512:
508:
501:
475:
473:
466:
455:
450:
444:
435:
431:
427:
417:
406:
393:
389:
385:Le Chat Noir
383:
380:Caran d'Ache
377:
370:
366:
346:
342:
341:
330:
322:
318:
316:
307:
303:
301:
289:
284:
282:
263:
248:
239:
229:
222:
215:
208:
196:
184:Please help
179:verification
176:
147:
139:
138:
126:Years active
83:(1925-07-28)
81:28 July 1925
15:
805:1925 deaths
800:1868 births
570:Songwriting
504:World War I
484:Chouannerie
337:Félix Mayol
327:Pierre Loti
152:World War I
117:Instruments
109:Occupations
794:Categories
458:Luxembourg
420:Port-Blanc
212:newspapers
64:1868-09-14
49:Birth name
424:Pont-Aven
150:. During
130:1895–1925
103:melodrama
88:Pont-Aven
264:Born in
144:Brittany
601:chanson
530:Rosalie
449:story,
312:Paimpol
226:scholar
99:chanson
480:Cholet
228:
221:
214:
207:
199:
120:Vocals
95:Genres
608:Notes
274:Gallo
266:Dinan
233:JSTOR
219:books
71:Dinan
357:Fame
205:news
158:Life
78:Died
58:Born
404:.
188:by
796::
760:^
679:^
670:,
658:^
640:^
616:^
555:.
544:.
101:,
434:(
374:"
321:(
255:)
249:(
244:)
240:(
230:·
223:·
216:·
209:·
182:.
66:)
62:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
