What is "gwerz"

n. a traditional folk song from Brittany

Gwerz (, plural gwerzioù, " ballad", " lament") is a type of folk song of Brittany, a Celtic region in France.

In Breton music, the gwerz tells a story which can be epic, historical, or mythological. The stories are usually of a tragic nature. The gwerz is characterised by an often monotonous melody and many couplets, all in the Breton language. Though historically sung unaccompanied, some modern musicians use limited instrumentation with the gwerz.

Some of the most famous performers in current gwerzioù are Erik Marchand, Yann-Fañch Kemener, and Denez Prigent.