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Songs of Guernsey, Ancient and Authentic The Harp Consort has produced a new CD of ancient songs from the Isle of Guernsey: Les Travailleurs de la Mer. Director Andrew Lawrence-King, a native of Guernsey, tells Sheilah Kast about the project.

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Songs of Guernsey, Ancient and Authentic

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Songs of Guernsey, Ancient and Authentic

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From 'Les Travailleurs'

'L'bouan houme Andrio'

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'La maison Ensorchellaie'

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'Cha chon'

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Eight centuries ago, the residents of an island just off the Normandy coast of France pledged their allegiance to the British Crown.

Guernsey native Andrew Lawrence-King directs the Harp Consort in a selection of songs from the island. Harmonia Mundi hide caption

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Harmonia Mundi

But for the people of Guernsey, "allegiance" certainly didn't mean giving up a colorful and vivid cultural identity.

To this day, islanders remain proud and fiercely independent, and they have kept alive a unique local language, Guernesiais.

A new CD of ancient songs from the Isle of Guernsey has been released by the Harp Consort: Les Travailleurs de la Mer. Director Andrew Lawrence-King, a native of Guernsey, talks about the project, subtitled "Ancient Songs from a Small Island."