Erik Marchand

Erik Marchand (2 October 1955 – 30 October 2025) was a French traditional singer and player of the treujenn-gaol (Breton clarinet). He was born in Paris while his family were of Breton origin, hailing from Quelneuc, Brittany.

Influenced by the music of Manuel Kerjean, Marchand moved to his family's homeland and studied traditional music and the Breton language. He became deeply involved with traditional Breton singing, including the gwerz, a traditional lament. In the 1980s he helped form a traditional music group called Gwerz which released three albums. In the 1980s he also began to collaborate with oudist Thierry Robin, producing a fusion of Celtic and Arabic motifs influenced by jazz.

Marchand died on 30 October 2025 at the age of 70.

Discography 1982: Chants à danser de Haute-Bretagne, with Gilbert Bourdin ha Christian Dautel, Dastum 1985: Gwerz, nouvelle musique de Bretagne, Dastum/Gwerz 1985: Chants à répondre de Haute-Bretagne, with Gilbert Bourdin and Christian Dautel, Le Chasse-Marée 1988: Gwerz : Au-delà, Escalibur. Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1988 1989: Gwerz Penmarc'h, with Cabestan, Le Chasse-Marée 1990: An henchoù treuz, chants du Centre-Bretagne, gant Thierry Robin, AMTA/Ocora, Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1990 1991: Trio Erik Marchand : An tri Breur, Silex, ffff Télérama 1991: Musique têtue gant le Quintet de Clarinettes, Silex, ffff Télérama 1993: Gwerz live, Gwerz Pladenn 1993: Bazh du with le Quintet de Clarinettes, Silex. Diapason d'Or 1993: Erik Marchand et le Taraf de Caransebes : Sag an tan ell, Silex. Priz bras an Akademiezh Charles Cros 1995 ha ffff Télérama 1997: Fresu, Pellen, Marchand trio : Condaghes, Silex, Choc de la Musique 1998: Erik Marchand et le Taraf de Caransebes : Dor, BMG, ffff Télérama, Choc de la Musique, R 10 de Répertoires 2001: Kan, gant l'ensemble de Mallakaster d'Albanie, Le Tenore de Santu Predu (Sardaigne), Fransy Gonzales-Calvo (Galice) ha Bassey Koné (Mali), fff Télérama 2003: La Route de la Rose, Attitudes 2003: Le Requiem d'Anna Ac'hmatova 2003: Ephéméra Jacques Pellen Naïve 2004: PRUNA Erik Marchand et les Balkaniks Harmonia Mundi 2741260 2013: Ukronia

Decorations Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters (2016)