Music of Ireland

Ireland is internationally known for its folk music, which has remained a vibrant tradition throughout the 20th century, when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music. In spite of emigration and a well-developed connection to music imported from Britain and the United States, Irish music has kept many of its traditional aspects; indeed, it has itself influenced many forms of music, such as country and roots music in the USA, which in turn have greatly influenced rock music in the 20th century. It has occasionally also been modernised, however, and fused with rock and roll, punk rock and other genres. Some of these fusion artists have attained much mainstream success, at home and abroad.

Instruments Used in Traditional Irish Music

Fiddle

Main article: Fiddle

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One of the most important instruments in the traditional repertoire, the fiddle is played differently in widely-varying regional styles. Modern performers include Martin Hayes, Paul Shaughnessy, Matt Cranitch, Frankie Gavin, the Glackin brothers, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, James Kelly, Tommy Peoples, Maire Breatnach and Gerry O'Connor. Sligo fiddlers like Michael Coleman did much to popularise Irish music in the States in the 1920s.

Related Topics:
Martin Hayes - Paul Shaughnessy - Matt Cranitch - Frankie Gavin - The Glackin brothers - Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh - James Kelly - Tommy Peoples - Maire Breatnach - Gerry O'Connor - Michael Coleman

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The best-known regional fiddling traditions are from Donegal, Sligo, Sliabh Luachra and Clare.

Related Topics:
Donegal - Sligo - Sliabh Luachra - Clare

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The fiddling tradition of Sligo is perhaps most recognizable to outsiders, due to the popularity of American-based performers like James O'Beirne, Michael Coleman, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran; Irish Sligo fiddlers include Andrew Davey, Martin Wynne, Fred Finn and Kathleen Harrington. However, most fiddlers will generally tell you that Clare is probably the most emulated regional style of Irish fiddling (though there's lots to dispute that, as well).

Related Topics:
James O'Beirne - Michael Coleman - James Morrison - Paddy Killoran - Andrew Davey - Martin Wynne - Fred Finn - Kathleen Harrington

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Other established fiddlers include(d) Clare's Frank Custy, Paddy Canny, Bobby Casey, Jack Mulcaire, John Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Peadar O'Loughlin, Pat O'Connor (fiddler), Junior Crehan and P. Joe Hays, while Donegal has produced Seán Reid, Néllidh Boyle, James Byrne, Vincent Campbell, Francie Byrne, John Doherty, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, and Bridget Regan. Sliabh Luachra, a small area between Kerry and Cork, is known for Julia Clifford, Séamus Creagh, and Pádraig O'Keefe.

Related Topics:
Frank Custy - Paddy Canny - Bobby Casey - Jack Mulcaire - John Kelly - Patrick Kelly - Peadar O'Loughlin - Pat O'Connor (fiddler) - Junior Crehan - P. Joe Hays - Seán Reid - Néllidh Boyle - James Byrne - Vincent Campbell - Francie Byrne - John Doherty - Proinsias Ó Maonaigh - Bridget Regan - Kerry - Cork - Julia Clifford - Séamus Creagh - Pádraig O'Keefe

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Flute and Whistle

Main articles: flute and tin whistle

Related Topics:
Flute - Tin whistle

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Flutes have long been an integral part of Irish traditional music, and its cousin the tin whistle or low whistle are also popular. Modern flautists (or "fluters" as they're often called) include Matt Molloy, Kevin Crawford, Michael McGoldrick, Desi Wilkinson and Emer Mayock, while whistlers include Paddy Moloney, Sean Ryan, Mary Bergin, Denis Ryan and Packie Byrne.

Related Topics:
Tin whistle - Low whistle - Matt Molloy - Kevin Crawford - Michael McGoldrick - Desi Wilkinson - Emer Mayock - Paddy Moloney - Sean Ryan - Mary Bergin - Denis Ryan - Packie Byrne

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Uilleann pipes

Main article: Uilleann pipes

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A kind of bagpipes, uilleann pipes (pronounced ill-yun) are complex and said to take years to learn to play. Its modern form had arrived by the 1890s, and was played by gentlemen pipers like Seamus Ennis, Leo Rowsome and Willy Clancy, in refined and ornate pieces, as well as showy, ornamented forms played by travelling pipers like John Cash and Johnny Doran. The uilleann piping tradition had near died down before being re-popularized by the likes of Paddy Moloney (of the Chieftains), and the formation of Na Píobairí, an organization open to pipers that included such legends as Rowsome and Ennis, as well as researcher and collector Breandán Breathnach. Liam O'Flynn is one of the most popular of modern performers along with Paddy Keenan, John McSherry, Davy Spillane, Mick O'Brien and many more.

Related Topics:
Bagpipes - 1890s - Seamus Ennis - Leo Rowsome - Willy Clancy - John Cash - Johnny Doran - Paddy Moloney - The Chieftains - Na Píobairí - Breandán Breathnach - Liam O'Flynn - Paddy Keenan - John McSherry - Davy Spillane - Mick O'Brien

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Uillean pipes are the most complex form of bagpipe; they possess a chanter with a double reed, three single reed drones for continuous accompaniment, a two-octave range and an optional set of three pipes (regulator) with double reeds and keys.

Related Topics:
Chanter - Reed - Regulator

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The uillean pipes play a prominent part in a form of instrumental music called Fonn Mall, descendents of ancient songs, as well as in the unaccompanied vocal music called sean nós. Willie Clancy, Leo Rowsome, and Garret Barry are among the many pipers famous in their day. Paddy Keenan, Davy Spillane and Robbie Hannon play these traditional airs today, among many others. Many Pavee families, such as the Fureys and Dorans and Keenans, are famous for the pipers among them.

Related Topics:
Fonn Mall - Sean nós - Willie Clancy - Leo Rowsome - Garret Barry - Paddy Keenan - Davy Spillane - Robbie Hannon

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Harp

Main article: harp

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Played as long ago as the 8th century, the harp is a symbol of Ireland and its players are widely-respected. Many tunes were written by Turlough Ó Carolan, a blind 18th century harpist who is considered by many to be the unofficial national composer of Ireland. Thomas Connellan, a slightly earlier Sligo harper, composed the tunes behind such well-known songs as "The Dawning of the Day"/"Raglan Road" and "Carolan's Dream". Modern traditional players include Laoise Kelly, Grainne Hambly, Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Bonnie Shaljean. Irish harp music is built around particular chords of the scale.

Related Topics:
8th century - Turlough Ó Carolan - 18th century - Thomas Connellan - Laoise Kelly - Grainne Hambly - Máire Ní Chathasaigh - Bonnie Shaljean

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The most renowned Irish harpist of recent decades is likely Máire Ní Chathasaigh. Other notable recent Irish harpists include Laoise Kelly (of The Bumblebees), Mary O'Hara, Antoinette McKenna, Derek Bell (of The Chieftains) and Aine Minoque.

Related Topics:
Máire Ní Chathasaigh - Laoise Kelly - The Bumblebees - Mary O'Hara - Antoinette McKenna - Derek Bell - The Chieftains - Aine Minoque

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Accordion and Concertina

Main articles: accordion and concertina

Related Topics:
Accordion - Concertina

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The accordion plays a major part in modern music. Popular players include John Williams, Sharon Shannon and Dave Hennessy. Concertina players include Niall Vallely and Noel Hill.

Related Topics:
John Williams - Sharon Shannon - Dave Hennessy - Niall Vallely - Noel Hill

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The accordion spread to Ireland late in the 19th century. In its ten-key form (melodeon), it was popular across the island, and was recorded early by John Kimmel and Irish-American Peter Conlon.

Related Topics:
19th century - Melodeon - John Kimmel - Peter Conlon

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There are numerous ways to play the accordion, including the "push-and-draw" method pioneered by Joe Cooley, and the "outside in" system from the United States, championed by Joe Derrane, Joe Burke Paddy O'Brien (of Tipperary), Kieran O'Loughlin of Clare and James Keane

Related Topics:
Joe Cooley - Joe Derrane - Joe Burke - Paddy O'Brien - Tipperary - Kieran O'Loughlin - Clare

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Concertinas are of several types, the two most common in Irish traditional music being the English and the Anglo systems. Each differs from the other in construction and playing technique. The Anglo is the more common in Irish music and its use in that genre precedes the English. The most distinctive characteristic of the Anglo system is that each button sounds a different note, depending on whether the bellows are compressed or expanded. Anglo concertinas typically have either two or three rows of buttons that sound notes, plus an "air button" located near the right thumb that allows the player to fill or empty the bellows without sounding a note.

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Two-row Anglo concertinas usually have 20 buttons that sound notes. Each row of 10 buttons comprises notes within a common key. The two primary rows thus contain the notes of two musical keys, such as C and G. Each row is divided in two with five buttons playing lower-pitched notes of the given key on the left-hand end of the instrument and five buttons playing the higher pitched notes on the right-hand end. The row of buttons in the higher key is closer to the wrist of each hand.

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Three-row concertinas add a third row of accidentals (i.e., sharps and flats not included in the keys represented by the two main rows) and redundant notes (i.e., notes that duplicate those in the main keys but are located in the third, outermost row) that enable the instrument to be played in virtually any key. A series of sequential notes can be played in the home-key rows by depressing a button, compressing the bellows, depressing the same button and extending the bellows, moving to the next button and repeating the process, and so on. A consequence of this arrangement is that the player often encounters occasions requiring a change in bellows direction, which produces a clear separation between the sounds of the two adjacent notes. This tends to give the music a more punctuated, bouncy sound that can be especially well suited to hornpipes or jigs.

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English concertinas, by contrast, sound the same note for any given button, irrespective of the direction of bellows travel. Thus, any note can be played while the bellows is either expanded or compressed. As a consequence, sequential notes can be played without altering the bellows direction. This allows sequences of notes to be played in a smooth, continuous stream without the interruption of changing bellows direction.

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Despite the inherent bounciness of the Anglo and the inherent smoothness of the English concertina systems, skilled players of Irish traditional music can achieve either effect on each type of instrument by adapting the playing style. On the Anglo, for example, the notes on various rows partially overlap and the third row contains additional redundant notes, so that the same note can be sounded with more than one button. Often, whereas one button will sound a given note on bellows compression, an alternative button in a different row will sound the same note on bellows expansion. Thus, by playing across the rows, the player can avoid changes in bellows direction from note to note where the musical objective is a smoother sound. Likewise, the English system accommodates playing styles that counteract its inherent smoothness and continuity between notes. Specifically, when the music calls for it, the player can choose to reverse bellows direction, causing sequential notes to be more distinctly articulated.

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Banjo

Main article: banjo

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The four-string tenor banjo is favoured by most Irish traditional players, and is commonly tuned GDAE, an octave below the fiddle. It was brought to Ireland by returned emigrants from the United States, where it was brought by African slaves. It is normally not strummed, instead being played as a melody instrument using either a plectrum or a "thimble". While the instrument's percussive sound can add greatly to the "lift" of a session, a poorly played or overly loud banjo can be disruptive. Skilled and sensitive players will generally find themselves welcomed in "open" sessions, provided no more than one plays at a time. Barney McKenna of The Dubliners is often credited with paving the way for the banjo's current popularity, and is still actively playing. Great players include Kieran Hanrahan, John Carty, Angelina Carberry, Fergus O'Byrne, Gerry O'Connor(banjo), and kyle Griffin.

Related Topics:
United States - Africa - Plectrum - Session - Barney McKenna - The Dubliners - Kieran Hanrahan - John Carty - Angelina Carberry - Fergus O'Byrne - Gerry O'Connor(banjo) - Kyle Griffin

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Guitar

Main article: guitar

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Guitars have become commonplace in modern sessions. They are generally strummed to provide backing for the melody players. Melody playing on the guitar is certainly possible, but tends to be drowned out in a session environment by the louder instruments such as fiddle and flute. Masters of the guitar in Irish traditional music include Arty McGlynn, Loughy(Kieran O'Loughlin) and Steve Cooney.

Related Topics:
Session - Arty McGlynn - Loughy - Steve Cooney

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Bouzouki

Main article: bouzouki

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A fairly recent import from Greece, the bouzouki was introduced in the late 1960s by Johnny Moynihan and then popularized by Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, and Alec Finn. The bouzouki design favoured by most Irish music players today has four courses of two strings each tuned GDAD, GDAE, or ADAE.

Related Topics:
Greece - 1960s - Johnny Moynihan - Donal Lunny - Alec Finn

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Mandolin

Main article: mandolin

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The mandolin is becoming a more common instrument among Irish traditional musicians. The instrument is usually tuned like a fiddle and is plucked with a plectrum, or pick. Unlike a fiddle, it has frets, like a guitar. Tunes originally created by fiddle players in standard tuning are relatively accessible for quick apprehension by a mandolin player because of the identical fingering by the left hand (for right-handed players - vice versa for left-handed players). In recent decades, plucked instruments like the mandolin have become common session instruments by melody and rhythm players.

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Although each of the different types of non-electrified mandolin can fit into Irish traditional music, many players prefer flat-backed instruments with oval sound holes rather than bowl-back mandolins or those with f-holes similar to the type seen on violins. Instruments built by British luthier Stefan Sobell are among the most favored mandolins for Irish traditional music, although many other makers also build instruments well suited to that genre.

Related Topics:
Sound hole - F-hole - Luthier

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Many American bluegrass mandolin players and mandolinists from many backgrounds have discovered that Irish traditional music is an ideal stepping stone to another channel of discovery and creativity on the mandolin. However, the Irish style and rhythm of playing jigs and reels is quite distinct from bluegrass and old-time mandolin, and requires some amount of effort and listening to learn properly. Chord-strumming on the mandolin (particularly bluegrass-style "chop" strumming) does not blend well in an Irish traditional music setting.

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Great players include Andy Irvine, Mick Moloney, Paul Kelly, and Claudine Langille.

Related Topics:
Andy Irvine - Mick Moloney - Paul Kelly - Claudine Langille

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Bodhrán

A frame drum, the bodhrán is considered a relatively modern addition to traditional dance music. It was introduced/popularized in the 1960s by Sean Ó Riada (although there are mentions of "tambourines" without zils being played as early as the mid nineteenth century), and quickly became popular. Great players include Johnny 'Ringo' McDonagh, Tommy Hayes, Colm Murphy and Fergus O'Byrne (of Ryan's Fancy).

Related Topics:
Frame drum - 1960s - Sean Ó Riada - Johnny 'Ringo' McDonagh - Tommy Hayes - Colm Murphy - Fergus O'Byrne - Ryan's Fancy

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Because it appears to be an easy instrument to play, the bodhrán has become immensely popular with newcomers to the playing of Irish traditional music. Unfortunately this can often lead to disruption of a music session by players who do not have the understanding or skill to provide a sympathetic rhythmic accompaniment, or even by multiple conflicting bodhráns being beaten simultaneously.

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Harmonica

Main article: harmonica

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A well-known instrument found in many kinds of traditional music, the Irish harmonica tradition is best-represented by Eddie Clarke and Brendan Power (the latter being of New Zealand).

Related Topics:
Brendan Power - New Zealand

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