Henri Lachaud (1906-1983) was a fiddler from Chaumeil, in the Monédières mountains . Like Artense in Auvergne, this region in the centre of the Corrèze department was the site of intense violin practice , which generated very distinctive styles and repertoires. Henri's father, Léonard Lachaud (1875-around 1960) was one of its eminent representatives, and his influence can be felt in all the fiddlers of his son's generation who were able to be met and recorded (Jean and Julie Chastagnol, Baptiste Porte, Etienne Malagnoux, Elie Chamberet).

After living in Paris for years, Henri Lachaud returned to Corrèze at the end of his life, where he was able to pass on to collectors the precious musical heritage he held . Some characteristic tunes can be heard on the album " Violoneux corréziens ", published in 1979 by the association "Les Musiciens Routiniers" (reissued on CD by the CRMTL).

As in the Artense, the triple-beat bourrées occupy a prominent place in the repertoire of the Monédières fiddlers , alongside quite a few waltzes and other more marginal dances (polkas, mazurkas, scottisches), as well as a few wedding marches that are also quite typical. In the waltz tunes, we often recognize the contributions of city music, with 19th century or musette style colors, more or less acclimatized to the style of the fiddlers.

On the other hand, the bourrées of the Monédières bear a very particular stylistic imprint, even when their basic theme (sung version) can be known elsewhere in the Massif Central: rich ornamentation based on varied "finger strokes" (embroideries, coulades, "roulés" or grupetti, trills), jerky and disconcerting rhythm, fast tempo and very marked modal climate . As for the scales used, we can notably note a seventh degree (sub-tonic) often quite low, which distances the musical feeling from the major climate, and a fourth degree often a little raised .

You can hear recordings of Henri Lachaud posted online here:
http://patrimoine-oral.org/dyn/portal/index.seam?firstResult=0&page=listalo&fonds=4&aloId=17806&cid=1805

Photo credit: Jean-Michel Ponty, 1977