A Brief History of Irish Folk Music

A look at the origins and history of Irish folk music, and how it has evolved over the years.

The Origins of Irish Folk Music

Irish folk music has its origins in the medieval era. It was originally created by the Celtic people who lived in Ireland. The first Irish folk music was played on the bodhran, a type of drum. This music was then brought to the United States by Irish immigrants in the late 1800s.

The Celtic Connection

Irish folk music has its roots in the Celtic culture of Ireland. The Celts were a group of Indo-European peoples who occupied parts of Europe as early as the 8th century BCE. They are known for their rich oral tradition, which includes a wide variety of musical genres. Irish folk music is characterized by its use of traditional instruments like the fiddle, flute, and accordion, as well as its distinctive vocal style.

The Celtic connection to Irish folk music is evident in its use of traditional Irish instruments like the fiddle and flute. Irish folk music is also characterized by its distinctive vocal style, which often makes use of ornamentation and embellishment. This vocal style is believed to have originated with the Celts, who were known for their rich oral tradition.

Irish folk music has been influenced by a wide variety of musical genres over the centuries. In the early 20th century, for example, American country and western music began to have an impact on Irish folk music. This can be seen in the popularity of songs like “The Irish Rover” and “The Galway Races.” more recently, rock and pop music have also had an impact on Irish folk music, as can be seen in the popularity of bands like The Pogues and Flogging Molly.

The Influence of the Church

The Roman Catholic Church had a strong influence on the development of Irish folk music. The church banned many traditional instruments, such as the bagpipes, because they were associated with pagan ceremonies. This ban helped to bring about the rise of the Celtic harp, which was considered a more pious instrument. The church also discouraged singing in the native Irish language, which caused many folk songs to be written in Latin. However, some Irish people continued to sing in their native tongue in spite of the church’s disapproval. These folk songs were often about aspects of daily life, such as love and marriage, or they told stories about Irish history and mythology.

The Influence of the English

While Irish folk music has been influenced by many cultures, the biggest single influence has been the music of the English. This is particularly true in the area of balladry. The English ballad tradition is a very old one, and it has been transplanted to Ireland and adapted by the Irish over the centuries. Many of the most popular Irish folk songs are actually based on English ballads (or, in some cases, Scottish or American ballads). “The Unquiet Grave,” “She Moved Through the Fair,” and “The Lady Is a Tramp” are all good examples of this phenomenon.

The Evolution of Irish Folk Music

Irish folk music has evolved over the centuries, blending the sounds of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon traditions. Irish folk music is a lively and upbeat genre that often features traditional instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, and accordion. The lyrics of Irish folk songs often tell stories of love, loss, and immigration.

The Rise of the Ballad

The ballad is a narrative folk song, which originally was passed down orally from one generation to the next. It is believed that the ballad developed from ancient Celtic tradition. In Ireland, two types of ballads are sung: the broadside ballad and the traditional ballad. The broadside ballad was printed on a single sheet of paper and sold on the streets, while the traditional ballad was learned through an oral tradition and passed down from one singer to another.

The broadside ballad evolved out of the minstrelsy tradition in England. Minstrelsy was a type of entertainment in which minstrels, or travelling performers, would sing songs and play instruments for audiences in town squares and markets. In Ireland, these minstrels were known as traveling players or “tinkers.” The first broadside ballads in Ireland were printed in Dublin in the early 1600s and were mainly about current events or scandals.

As time went on, the subject matter of broadside ballads began to change. By the late 1600s, they began to focus more on love stories and domestic dramas. These new ballads were often based on older folk songs, but with new lyrics added to reflect contemporary life. One of the most famous Irish broadside ballads is “She Moved Through the Fair,” which was written by an anonymous composer in the late 1700s.

The traditional Irish ballad is a type of story song that often tells of tragic events such as murder or shipwrecks. These songs usually have a chorus that is repeated after each verse. Many traditional Irish ballads were collected by song hunters in the 19th century who travelled around Ireland writing down the lyrics of these songs before they were forgotten. Some of the most famous Irish traditional ballads include “The Black Velvet Band,” “The Holy Well,” and “Danny Boy.”

The Rise of the Folk Group

In the 1960s, a new wave of Irish bands began to emerge, influenced by the folk music revival happening in England. These groups were led by singers like Gerry O’Connor and Dónal Lunny, who were interested in both traditional and contemporary folk music. One of the most popular Irish folk groups of this era was The Dubliners, who became known for their lively versions of traditional songs like “The Wild Rover” and “Whiskey in the Jar.”

The Revival of Folk Music

In the late 19th century, there was a renewed interest in Irish culture and music. This was partly due to the work of people like James Clarence Mangan, who collected and published Irish folk songs. The Irish Literary Revival also helped to promote Irish music. This was a movement that encouraged people to appreciate Ireland’s Gaelic heritage.

The most important figure in the Revival of Irish folk music was probably Edward Bunting. In 1792, he attended a harp festival in Belfast where he met some of the last surviving Irish harpers. He transcribed their music and published it in his collection, The Ancient Music of Ireland (1840). Bunting’s work ensured that the traditional music of Ireland would not be lost.

Other important figures in the Revival of Irish folk music include Paddy Reilly, Tom Munnelly, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill. In the 1960s, there was a new wave of interest in Irish folk music led by groups like The Chieftains and Planxty. Since then, there has been a growing international audience for Irish folk music.

The Modern Irish Folk Music Scene

Irish folk music has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. This is in part due to the success of bands like The Dubliners and The Chieftains, who have brought the music to a wider audience. There are now many young people who are interested in playing and listening to Irish folk music.

The Role of Traditional Irish Music

While it would be impossible to trace the origins of Irish music in a single article, we can say with certainty that the music has been an important part of Irish culture for centuries. Traditional Irish music is played on a number of instruments, including the fiddle, accordion, penny whistle, and bodhran (a traditional Irish drum). The music is often passed down from generation to generation, and many of the most popular songs are hundreds of years old.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional Irish music, both in Ireland and abroad. This has been partly due to the success of bands like The Chieftains and Solas, who have brought the music to a wider audience. In addition, the rise of social media has made it easier for people to connect with others who share their love of Irish music.

Despite its popularity, traditional Irish music is often overshadowed by the country’s more famous bands like U2 and The Script. However, there is no doubt that Irish folk music is an important part of the country’s musical heritage.

The Role of the Singer-Songwriter

The role of the singer-songwriter within the Irish folk music scene has been a controversial one. Some people feel that the singer-songwriter is taking the music in a different direction, while others believe that they are giving the music a new lease of life.

The term ‘singer-songwriter’ is used to describe someone who writes and sings their own songs, often about their own personal experiences. The songs are usually acoustic, and often have a folky or country feel to them.

Singer-songwriters became popular in the folk scene in the 1960s, when people started to question the traditional folk song lyrics which often glorified war and violence. The new wave of singer-songwriters offered a more personal and reflective take on life, and their popularity has continued ever since.

Today, there are many successful Irish singer-songwriters such as Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan, Damien Rice and Foy Vance. They are all helping to keep the Irish folk music tradition alive, while also bringing something new and fresh to the genre.

The Role of the Folk Group

The folk group is one of the most important aspects of the modern Irish folk music scene. These groups usually comprise of between four and six musicians who play a variety of traditional instruments including the fiddle, tin whistle, flute, uilleann pipes, concertina, accordion, mandolin, bodhrán and guitar. The repertoire of a folk group is often quite varied and may include both instrumental tunes and songs in Irish or English.

Folk groups often form the core of larger ensembles which may also include other traditional musicians such as pipers, harpists and dancers. These larger groups usually have a wider repertoire which may also include contemporary or non-traditional material. In recent years there has been a trend towards smaller groups comprising just two or three musicians.

The popularity of Irish folk music has soared in recent years thanks in part to the success of groups such as Planxty, The Chieftains and The Dubliners. Folk music has also enjoyed something of a revival in Ireland itself with many young people taking an interest in learning traditional instruments and songs.