The Best Irish Folk Music Albums
Contents
If you’re looking for the best Irish folk music albums, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 10 of the most essential Irish folk music albums, according to me.
Irish Folk Music Basics
Irish folk music is the traditional music of Ireland. It is a genre that is heavily influenced by the music of the Celtic people. Irish folk music has a rich history and has been passed down through the generations. Many of the songs that are popular today are centuries old.
What is Irish Folk Music?
Irish Folk music is the traditional music of Ireland. It consists of songs, ballads and instrumental pieces that are typically passed down from one generation to the next. The music has been influenced by many cultures over the centuries, including English, Scottish and American traditions.
The most common instruments used in Irish Folk music are the fiddle, tin whistle, concertina, accordion and bodhran (a type of drum). The music is often fast-paced and lively, and is often used for dancing. Traditional Irish Folk songs often tell stories of love, loss, immigration and war.
In recent years, Irish Folk music has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, both in Ireland and around the world. Many modern artists have been influenced by the traditional sounds of Irish Folk music, and have added their own twist to create a unique sound.
If you’re interested in exploring this genre of music, there are many great Irish Folk albums available. Here are just a few of our favorites:
-The Best of Irish Folk (various artists)
-The Dubliners (The Dubliners)
-Paddy Reilly to Mikael Harte (Paddy Reilly)
-At Home with the Clancys (The Clancy Brothers)
– folk Songs of Ireland (Tommy Makem)
The Origins of Irish Folk Music
Irish Folk music is the traditional music of the island of Ireland. It is a genre that has developed from the folk music of the Celtic countries (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany) as well as influenced by the music of England and Continental Europe.
The term “folk music” was first used in Europe in the late 18th century to describe popular songs that were anonymously created and sung by the working class. In Ireland, where storytelling and oral tradition have always been an important part of the culture, folk music evolved into a rich tapestry of ballads, jigs, reels, airs, and dance tunes.
Irish Folk music was brought to America by Irish immigrants in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and it quickly became popular among both Irish-Americans and mainstream America. The African-American community also embraced Irish Folk music, particularly in the form of work songs and spirituals.
In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in Irish Folk music, both in Ireland and abroad. Thanks to contemporary artists like The Chieftains, The Dubliners, Clannad, Planxty, Altan,The Pogues , The Corrs , Enya ,and The Cranberries ,the traditional sounds of Ireland can now be enjoyed by people all over the world.
The Instruments of Irish Folk Music
The heart of Irish music is the ceili (kay-lee) band. This type of ensemble usually includes fiddles, flutes, tin whistles, button accordions, guitars, drums, and sometimes a singer. The ceili band performs at social events such as house parties, concerts, and dances.
The Irish have always been great lovers of music and have a strong musical tradition. Traditional Irish music is characterized by its unique use of rhythm and melody. It is also very tuneful and highly ornamented. The most commonly used instruments in Irish music are the fiddle, the flute, the penny whistle, the uilleann pipes, the bodhran (a type of drum), and the harp.
Fiddles are probably the most popular instrument in Irish music. They come in different sizes and are usually made of wood. The fiddle has four strings which are tuned to the notes GDAE (low to high). The G string is usually tuned lower than the other strings to give the instrument a sweeter sound. Fiddles are played with a bow and can be used to play either slow airs or lively jigs and reels.
Flutes are also very popular in Irish music. They come in different sizes but all have six holes – three on each side – which are covered by the player’s fingers to produce different notes. Flutes can be made of wood or metal and are played by blowing into a small hole at one end. Smaller flutes have a higher pitch than larger flutes. Flutes are often used to play slow airs but can also be used for playing jigs and reels.
The penny whistle is a small flute that is very easy to play. It is usually made of plastic or metal and has six holes – three on each side – which are covered by the player’s fingers to produce different notes. Penny whistles are often used to play simple melodies but can also be used for playing more complex tunes.
The uilleann pipes are a type of bagpipe that is unique to Ireland. They have three drones – two tenor drones and one bass drone – which produce a constant background sound while the player uses his or her fingers to produce melody notes on a chanter (a type of pipe). Uilleann pipes can be played either solo or in a group and are often used for playing slow airs or marches.
The bodhran is a handheld drum that is played with two sticks – one held in each hand. It is usually made of wood or goat skin and produces a deep, resonant sound when struck with the sticks . Bodhrans vary in size from about 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter to 18 inches (45 cm) or more . They are often used for playing slow airs but can also be used for playing lively jigs and reels .
The Best Irish Folk Music Albums
Irish folk music has a long history and has been passed down through the generations. It is a genre of music that is very versatile and can be enjoyed by all. There are many different types of Irish folk music, but the most popular is probably traditional Irish folk music. There are many great Irish folk music albums out there, but these are the best of the best.
The Chieftains – The Chieftains 1
The Chieftains’ debut album is a perfect introduction to the band’s work. Although it is not as representative of their live sound as later albums, it contains some of the best-known and most popular recordings the band has ever made. “The Valley of Tears” is an atmospheric instrumental that has become one of the Chieftains’ signature pieces, while “Anois Ceili De,” “The Blacksmith,” and “Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore” are among the best-known Irish folk songs. The album also features a young Paddy Moloney on uilleann pipes, as well as some of his earliest composition,s including “The High Reel” and ” Caoineadh Chu Chulainn.”
The Dubliners – The Dubliners
The Dubliners are one of the most influential Irish folk bands of all time. Formed in 1962, the group is comprised of Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Tony McMahon, Jim McCann, Ciaran Bourke and John Sheahan. The Dubliners have released over 30 albums and have toured extensively throughout Europe, America and Australia. They are perhaps best known for their hit songs “The Wild Rover” and “The Fields of Athenry”.
Planxty – The Planxty Collection
This 2-disc set features some of the best Irish folk music ever recorded. “The Planxty Collection” includes such classic tracks as “The Well Below the Valley,” “Raggle Taggle Gypsy,” “As I Roved Out,” and many more. This is a must-have for any fan of Irish folk music.
The Bothy Band – The Bothy Band
The Bothy Band was a traditional Irish music group, formed in 1976 and featuring some of the most highly respected Irish musicians of their generation. The band achieved great success both in Ireland and internationally, winning two Grammy Awards and touring extensively throughout Europe, North America and Australia. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1977, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Irish folk music albums ever made.
The Wolfe Tones – The Wolfe Tones
The Wolfe Tones are an Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1963. The band’s founding members were Tony Small, Brian Warfield, and Noel Nagle. The Wolfe Tones are named after the Irish rebel leader Theobald Wolfe Tone.
The band is known for their political songs, which often relate to the Irish Republican Army and Northern Ireland. They have released 19 studio albums, and their most successful single is “Come Out Ye Black and Tans”, which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1971.
The Wolfe Tones are considered to be one of the most influential Irish folk bands of all time, and their music has been covered by many other artists, including Paul Brady, Christy Moore, and Flogging Molly.
