Music is one medium that can bind hearts all over the globe. Music can appeal to the soul no matter what kind of language is used to support it. Irish music or the music of Ireland is such that it has various styles and a kind of a lyrical soothing sound to it. Traditional Irish music is still very much firmly rooted in Ireland. The one thing that crops up in my mind about Irish music is the music and dance oriented act, Riverdance, which popularized many aspects about Ireland. Riverdance had such an appeal that it gave a new dimension to the Irish music and dance scene. Although experts argue about the authenticity of the Irish music used (because it has a lot of influences as well), I personally loved Riverdance; its beautiful sets, brilliant dancers, exquisite costumes and the very talented musicians had me asking for more.
Irish Music: Flashback
Irish music still has a strong foothold today despite the emergence of new styles of the music scenario. Irish music saw its peak from the ninth to the middle of the eleventh century. The voice was always used in accompaniment with Irish music. One’s voice was obviously one of the oldest ‘instruments’ one could use. The traditional aspects of Irish music are still very much preserved today.
The main characteristic about Irish music is the slow moving change. In the ancient days, the ancient Celts were known to have passed the music and lyrics orally. The Irish were forbidden to speak their own language when the British invaded them. This was the time music was used to remember some of the important events and was also considered to be a way to keep their heritage intact. There were various styles of Irish music as well. Let us take a look at traditional Irish music.
Traditional Irish Music:
The traditional Irish music or the Irish folk music is a term that is used for music that has been composed in various genres all over Ireland. The traditional songs were always written in the Irish language. (Today, we find the use of the English language) The melody in traditional Irish music was always considered to be the most important factor and therefore the harmony was kept simple. This was also the time when the sean-nos were considered the highest point of traditional singing. The sean-nos are the unaccompanied vocals. This is always performed in a solo version. One’s style is also considered to be very important in traditional Irish music. The Irish folk music or songs that are completely traditional are at least more than 200 years old. Solo performances were also preferred as far as Irish folk music was concerned but bands gained popularity during the mid 19th century. One of the most famous composers who had over 200 compositions to his credit was Turlough Carolan. His style is actually considered as a classical style.
Céilí dance gained popularity in the 19th century. This is also referred to as a kind of a social gathering that includes Irish music and Irish dance. A group of musicians always provided music for the Céilí dance with the help of instruments such as the accordian, flute, drums, piano, banjo etc.
Irish music was also very widely used in accompaniment with Irish dance. The beauty of stepdancing was aptly depicted in Riverdance.
Sadly, one saw a drop in the number of genuinely interested people in traditional Irish music around the 1930s. Experts have their difference of opinions about the use of the various types of musical instruments in traditional Irish music. It is said that the bouzoukis and the guitars were used in the late 1960s in Irish music. Some musical instruments made their appearance only in the later years. Let us take a look at some of the musical instruments used to create the melodious tunes that are found in Irish music.
Instruments used in Irish Music:
Uilleann Pipes:
The ancient Irish pipes were given the name of Irish Warpipes or even Great Irish Warpipes. The Uilleann pipes were also known as the union pipes and were developed at the beginning of the 18th century. These are also said to be the most complex form of the bagpipes. The modern version of the Uilleann pipes was said to have arrived on the music scenario around the 1890s.
Fiddle:
The violin or the fiddle (as it was known locally) is one of the most important instruments used in the various compositions of Irish music. The fiddle, available in a variety of shapes and sizes was considered to be very similar to the violin.
Accordian:
The accordian plays an important part in modern Irish music. The popularity of the accordian gained ground, sometime in the 19th century and this was also used commonly for dance in the typical Irish traditions.
Harp:
The harp is one such musical instrument in the Irish music scene that is found at least 5,000 years back in history. Generally, the harp rests between the knees and the right shoulder. Although traditionally, the harp was placed over the left shoulder by some early Irish and Scottish harps.
Bouzouki:
The first bouzouki was built by John Bailey; for John Pearse. The bouzouki arrived on the scene of the Irish music in the late 1960s, Irish bouzouki’s have a flat back or a slightly arched back as compared to the Greek bouzouki. The Irish bouzouki also has 4 pairs of strings as compared to the other kinds of bouzouki that are available.
Mandolin:
This music instrument also enjoyed a prominent position in Irish music. It is noticed that most Irish musicians who used the mandolin preferred the flat back instruments, which had an oval sound hole as compared to the Italian style.
Banjo:
The banjo was introduced on the Irish music scene by emigrants that came from the United States. The function of the banjo is considered to be similar to the bauzouki and even the mandolin which was used in Irish music.
Apart from this, the harmonica, guitar, flute, bodhrán, concertina etc., are also used in Irish music. Today, various other forms of music have also incorporated the traditional forms of Irish music in its compositions. Several groups on the music scene have combined Irish music very successfully to introduce a new kind of music or in a way to revive the traditional Irish music for the youngsters. Music therefore, has a strong foothold in Irish culture.
Irish Music: Flashback
Irish music still has a strong foothold today despite the emergence of new styles of the music scenario. Irish music saw its peak from the ninth to the middle of the eleventh century. The voice was always used in accompaniment with Irish music. One’s voice was obviously one of the oldest ‘instruments’ one could use. The traditional aspects of Irish music are still very much preserved today.
The main characteristic about Irish music is the slow moving change. In the ancient days, the ancient Celts were known to have passed the music and lyrics orally. The Irish were forbidden to speak their own language when the British invaded them. This was the time music was used to remember some of the important events and was also considered to be a way to keep their heritage intact. There were various styles of Irish music as well. Let us take a look at traditional Irish music.
Traditional Irish Music:
The traditional Irish music or the Irish folk music is a term that is used for music that has been composed in various genres all over Ireland. The traditional songs were always written in the Irish language. (Today, we find the use of the English language) The melody in traditional Irish music was always considered to be the most important factor and therefore the harmony was kept simple. This was also the time when the sean-nos were considered the highest point of traditional singing. The sean-nos are the unaccompanied vocals. This is always performed in a solo version. One’s style is also considered to be very important in traditional Irish music. The Irish folk music or songs that are completely traditional are at least more than 200 years old. Solo performances were also preferred as far as Irish folk music was concerned but bands gained popularity during the mid 19th century. One of the most famous composers who had over 200 compositions to his credit was Turlough Carolan. His style is actually considered as a classical style.
Céilí dance gained popularity in the 19th century. This is also referred to as a kind of a social gathering that includes Irish music and Irish dance. A group of musicians always provided music for the Céilí dance with the help of instruments such as the accordian, flute, drums, piano, banjo etc.
Irish music was also very widely used in accompaniment with Irish dance. The beauty of stepdancing was aptly depicted in Riverdance.
Sadly, one saw a drop in the number of genuinely interested people in traditional Irish music around the 1930s. Experts have their difference of opinions about the use of the various types of musical instruments in traditional Irish music. It is said that the bouzoukis and the guitars were used in the late 1960s in Irish music. Some musical instruments made their appearance only in the later years. Let us take a look at some of the musical instruments used to create the melodious tunes that are found in Irish music.
Instruments used in Irish Music:
Uilleann Pipes:
The ancient Irish pipes were given the name of Irish Warpipes or even Great Irish Warpipes. The Uilleann pipes were also known as the union pipes and were developed at the beginning of the 18th century. These are also said to be the most complex form of the bagpipes. The modern version of the Uilleann pipes was said to have arrived on the music scenario around the 1890s.
Fiddle:
The violin or the fiddle (as it was known locally) is one of the most important instruments used in the various compositions of Irish music. The fiddle, available in a variety of shapes and sizes was considered to be very similar to the violin.
Accordian:
The accordian plays an important part in modern Irish music. The popularity of the accordian gained ground, sometime in the 19th century and this was also used commonly for dance in the typical Irish traditions.
Harp:
The harp is one such musical instrument in the Irish music scene that is found at least 5,000 years back in history. Generally, the harp rests between the knees and the right shoulder. Although traditionally, the harp was placed over the left shoulder by some early Irish and Scottish harps.
Bouzouki:
The first bouzouki was built by John Bailey; for John Pearse. The bouzouki arrived on the scene of the Irish music in the late 1960s, Irish bouzouki’s have a flat back or a slightly arched back as compared to the Greek bouzouki. The Irish bouzouki also has 4 pairs of strings as compared to the other kinds of bouzouki that are available.
Mandolin:
This music instrument also enjoyed a prominent position in Irish music. It is noticed that most Irish musicians who used the mandolin preferred the flat back instruments, which had an oval sound hole as compared to the Italian style.
Banjo:
The banjo was introduced on the Irish music scene by emigrants that came from the United States. The function of the banjo is considered to be similar to the bauzouki and even the mandolin which was used in Irish music.
Apart from this, the harmonica, guitar, flute, bodhrán, concertina etc., are also used in Irish music. Today, various other forms of music have also incorporated the traditional forms of Irish music in its compositions. Several groups on the music scene have combined Irish music very successfully to introduce a new kind of music or in a way to revive the traditional Irish music for the youngsters. Music therefore, has a strong foothold in Irish culture.
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