What is Deliou?

Leaves, rough seas, deep pools and emerald woods. A wild and romantic dance on the wings of the wind in Brittany, a stroll in Paris, a journey in odd rhythms over the Carpathian Mountains to the Balkans, a voyage on a flying carpet for the magic of Orient.

Delioù (means leaves, in Breton) is the meeting of Czech fiddler Jitka Malczyk and Breton harper Célestine Doedens.

In their compositions, they draw from their journeys, and they tap into the traditional folklore and musical roots of Brittany, Bohemia, Hungary, the Balkans, Turkey and Scandinavia.

The music of Delioù is emotive and full of dynamism as well as playing with the silence. It lets you dream, enchants you to dance wildly, and tells a story at the same time.

Hardanger fiddle

This magical instrument was first made in 1651 by Ole Jonsen Jaastad from Hardanger. Besides the four basic strings, it has four or five understrings that resonate under the influence of the basic four. The instrument has therefore an amazing, energetic sound, once used to accompany dances or in processions.

Hardanger fiddle has different tuning than ordinary violin; this inspired the Norwegian composer Edward Grieg to write the introductory motive of “Morning” from the well-known suite Peer Gynt.

Hardanger fiddle is believed to possess magical powers: according to legends, it was often played by shamans, Norwegian water spirits, or even the Devil himself.The tones of the Hardanger fiddle connect our world with the yet unknown other worlds.

Celtic harp

The harp is one of the oldest musical instruments, its many types have been played all over the world. Célestine plays a Celtic harp with nylon strings, made of cherry wood by Marin Lhopiteau from Quimper.

This type of the Celtic harp, also called folk harp or lever harp, is a modern instrument derived from the old Gaelic harp. Nowadays, it is played mainly in Ireland, Scotland and Brittany. It is smaller than the classical harp, and instead chromatic pedals it has levers.