Description :
This episode of Orality and Humanity from Radio Pais is part of the European project Réseau Tramontana (Tramontana Network), co-financed by the European Union, which aims to highlight rural voices, local cultures, oral traditions and the human stories that shape European territories. In this context, the programme welcomes Edmond Duplan, a singer, composer and former sportsman from the Pyrenean region, whose life and artistic work illustrate the links between oral expression, collective memory and belonging to a territory.
During the interview, Edmond Duplan reflects on his long career as a musician, explaining that he has composed more than 250 songs, many of them connected to the landscapes, people and traditions of his region. He discusses the importance of singing as a way of preserving history and transmitting emotions, memories and shared experiences. His songs, written in French and in Bigourdan, celebrate rural life, villages, local characters and the relationship between communities and their environment.
The programme also explores the creation of his songs, particularly Le Refuge, a piece inspired by personal experiences and by the collective energy of singing groups. Edmond Duplan describes music as a force capable of bringing people together, creating moments of communion and expressing what words alone cannot convey. Through his testimony, the episode highlights the role of oral heritage in maintaining cultural identity and strengthening human connections across generations.