Originally from Brittany, Tristan Govic was only six years old when he began learning the Celtic harp at the Conservatoire of Traditional Music of Soye (Plœmeur).
A gold medalist in the Celtic harp (Rennes, Brittany), he holds an M.A. and a National Diploma in teaching traditional music. He’s writing at the moment a PhD in Musicology on the Breton harpist Kristen Noguès. The awards he has won during his career such as the Kan ar Bobl mark the recognition of an accomplished musician. Performing on international stages, critics pronounce him as one of the leading Celtic harpers today.
It was first in Ireland, then in Scotland that he developed a deep sense for Celtic music in a solo repertoire or with international musicians. For the 30th anniversary of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival (2011), the harpist Corrina Hewat invited him to take part in the performing of her masterpiece The Song of the Oak and The Ivy with Mary Macmaster, Wendy Stewart, Heather Downie and Bill Taylor.
Tristan Le Govic created his musical diversity by performing with other musicians such as the Breton accordionist Samuel Le Hénanff, Scottish double bass player Stuart Macpherson, English drum player Roy Shearer or the Swedish singer Lise Enochsson, with whom has developed a unique repertoire of Scandinavian music on the Celtic harp (Elva). With Tangi Le Hénanff (bass) and Alan Quéré-Moysan (drums), he created the Tristan Le Govic Trio, with whom he was awarded with the Nevez Flamm Trophy for the best Fest Noz band of the year 2018 and with whom he has recorded the album Dañs.
With Nikolaz Cadoret, Alice Soria-Cadoret, Cristine Mérienne and Clotilde Trouillaud, he plays in Diriaou, a performance on Kristen Noguès’ music under the artistic direction of Jacques Pellen and there after in a tribute concert in quartet with Manon Albert (voice), Cédrick Alexandre (double bass and bass) and Patrick Boileau (drums). He is the editor of the Antologiezh Telenn Breizh, the unique collection of Breton harp music in three volumes bringing together the greatest harpists of Brittany (Alan Stivell...).
Recognizable by his sense of rhythm and harmony, Tristan Le Govic's style is appreciated by both the general public and critics alike. Singer, storyteller, virtuoso musician, he creates his repertoire both in the tradition and with his own compositions. In perpetual movement, his world opens the gates of an extraordinary rhythmic and melodic diversity.
Interview
