Duo Barray

The Duo Barray, made up of Laurent Barray (vocals / Diatonic Accordion) and Valentin Barray (vocals / Piano) offers concerts of the music and song of the Chants de Marins de Normandie and elsewhere enlivened by their presentations and anecdotes.

These concerts display the traditional marine songs of Normandy: Chants des Baleiniers, Chants de Longs-Courriers, songs of Terre-Neuvas accompanied by the diatonic accordion, an emblematic instrument of sailors. A piano brings an original touch to the accompaniment of these songs.

The duo also performs a non-maritime “Bal Folk” set that takes the audience from Italy to France, from England to Quebec Ireland to Louisiana… in the company of diatonic accordions of very diverse origins. (diatonic, Quebec melodeon or Cajun, concertina, etc ….) A colourful presentation that, through its anecdotes, songs and music, highlights the different musical traditions.

Laurent Barray, of the groups Cap Ouest (Le Havre), Quai des Brumes and Marée de Paradis is Professor of the Diatonic Accordion at the Conservatoire of Le Havre and also teaches in the Galaor (Rouen) and Les Amarres (Yport) associations.

Valentin Barray, who is also listed under Cap Ouest (Le Havre) is a French pianist and composer. He obtained a Bachelor and a Master degree in Performance at the Royal College of Music London with the highest honours. He has won several national and international competitions, including the 1st prize in the French ,”Royaume de la musique” and the 1st prize of the Royal College of Music contemporary music competition. He is the winner of the Claude Bonneton international competition.

Hailing from Normandy, France, Valentin draws inspiration from the sea, acting as a contrasting horizon to the proximity of his piano. He has collaborated with artists across various musical genres, breaking conventions from sea shanties to classical, and venturing into jazz and folk.

He recently released his first solo album entitled “Mirages”, which includes his own compositions inspired by traditional melodies. Valentin has given many solo concerts totalling more than 150 performances across Europe, including in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria and Poland. He has performed on the most important stages of European folk music, such as the Boombal Festival, the Grand Bal de l’Europe, Saint Gervais d’Auvergne, the Son Continu, Damada, Cadansa and the Marsinnes Folk Festival.

The duo released a non-maritime  album, Le Jardin Oublié in January 2025 which offers compositions for piano and diatonic accordion, Inspired by traditional music such as waltzes, mazurkas, Scottish dances, gavottes and other rondeaux.