The cuislenna (bagpipes – see Great Irish Warpipes) The timpan (a small string instrument played with a bow or plectrum)
Last but not least, according to W.H.Grattan Flood who wrote A History of Irish Music (1905), in Gaelic Ireland, there were at least ten instruments used in traditional music such as:Īnd clairseach (a bigger harp with typically 30 strings) Traditional music has always drawn on many influences and sources: for example, the ballroom schottisches and polkas of polite 19th-century society, English music-hall songs, Scottish bagpipe music, and even the music of visiting blackface minstrel troupes.įollowing the example of traditional group De Danann (who have made a hornpipe from the Beatles’ song ‘Hey Jude’), Irish traditional music means absorbing other influences and making them feel at home. One of the features of traditional music is its capacity for absorption, retention and change. However, even in Ireland there are many differences between traditional music: the music of West Cork is different from the music of Donegal, probably because of the diversity of their dialects and accents. Irish traditional music is different from the Scottish one for example, but it has also many similarities with it. In Ireland, the distinction between “traditional” and “folk” music traditional music could be divided into two categories: instrumental music which is mostly dance music and the song tradition which is usually unaccompanied solo singing whereas instead folk music can refer to contemporary songs with guitar accompaniment. The following song is a Celtic song by The Corrs- Toss The Feathers: Īs for Irish traditional music, in 1954 the International Folk Music Council provided a definition stating that folk music is the product of a musical tradition that has been evolved through the process of oral transmission. Since its origins, Celtic music is a solo musical form: that’s what happens when you listen to a traditional Irish band formed by fiddle, flute and accordion, you’ll eventually hear the sound of three solo parts executed simultaneously. What separates a normal song from a Celtic song is the absence of an appropriate accompaniment against the continuous, melodic flow of the notes without the harmony or the chords, typical elements of classic or pop music basically Celtic music is melodic music rather than harmonic. Celtic music is known for its dancing tunes, but it can easily shift from a rousing dance tune to a tender song, usually a ballad. Celtic music is described as a type of folk music with a distintive music and lyrics, whereas instead the instruments played are violin, lute, flute, bagpipe, hard. The following song is a traditional Irish song by Brogan’s Bar – Ennis: Ĭeltic music represents the traditional music of the Celtic countries such as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany (France), Galicia (Spain) as well as influenced areas (particularly the US and Canada’s maritime provinces) and takes his name from people who live in these locations, meaning the Celts. So, Irish music may be Celtic, but Celtic music isn’t always Irish. However it should be useful, if not essential to distinguish Celtic music and traditional Irish music in fact traditional music created in Ireland is considered Irish music, but sometimes it is referred as Celtic music from many people nowadays who are born of Celtic origins. Saint Patrick’s day is an international event, therefore music is a remarkable sign of unity and tradition: during the day people listen to traditional irish music and also celtic music, especially at the parade where people dressed in green gather together, dancing and singing all the time.
He died on March 17th and that’s why on this day people organize a big feast in order to commemorate his life and great actions. He was a saint who brought christianity to Ireland, probably born in Britain around 385 AD after spending six years as a slave in Ireland he returned there as a missionary among the Celtic pagans. Last week people from all over the world celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day, a religious holiday dedicated to the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. That’s the lovely thing about music, and it’s the same with art and the same with poetry.” – Brian Finnegan They’re not great academics, or geniuses – they’re just ordinary people, like you and me.
Music kind of invites you to walk into these lives. “There’s no other profession in the world where you can get to meet such amazing characters – the real people of the country that you go to.