Description :
This radio programme is part of Radio País and was produced within the framework of the European Rede Tramontana (Réseau Tramontana / Tramontana Network) project, co-funded by the European Union. The project is dedicated to preserving and sharing Europe’s oral heritage, local memories, traditional music, and cultural expressions through recordings, interviews, and community archives.
In this episode of Reality and Humanity, host Fabrice welcomes Edmond Duplan, who recalls the life and musical legacy of his father, Dominique Duplan. Edmond explains that his father was deeply connected to the Béarnaise singing tradition and introduces a song from his repertoire, Beroy of Loup, originally written around 1850 in the Béarn region. He also recounts how, in 1965, he had the opportunity to record his father in a Paris studio, preserving a remarkable example of this regional musical heritage for future generations.
The conversation explores Dominique Duplan’s vocal qualities, his participation in singing competitions, and his expressive approach to interpretation. Edmond describes these traditional songs as poetic texts that can almost be spoken rather than sung, emphasizing their emotional depth and dignity. The programme concludes with the historic recording of Dominique Duplan performing the song, followed by the host’s appreciation for this valuable testimony to Béarn’s musical and linguistic heritage.