Traditional Irish Instrumental Folk Music

Traditional Irish instrumental folk music is a genre of music that is typically played on acoustic stringed instruments. It is often characterized by its use of traditional Irish musical scales and modes, as well as its distinctive melodic and rhythmic patterns.

Introduction

Traditional Irish instrumental music is the music of the people of Ireland. It is played on traditional Irish instruments, such as the fiddle, flute, Uilleann pipes, and bodhran. It is danced to in jigs, reels, and hornpipes. It is characterized by its lilting rhythms and lively melodies.

Instrumental Irish music was originally passed down from generation to generation through the oral tradition. The first written evidence of Irish music dates from the 13th century, when an anonymous monk wrote down a tune called “Summer Is Icumen In”. However, it was not until the 17th and 18th centuries that Irish music began to be collected and published in printed form. The greatest collector of Irish tunes was Edward Bunting (1773-1843), who travelled around Ireland recording songs and tunes from traditional musicians.

Today, there are many different styles of playing Irish instrumental music. The older style, which can be heard on recordings made in the early 20th century, is sometimes referred to as “Celtic” or “Old-Time” style. This style emphasizes melody and rhythm, and often features ornamentation such as trills and slides. A more recent style, which developed in the mid-20th century, is known as “session” or ” contemporary” style. This style places more emphasis on technical virtuosity and complex harmony.

Whether you are a fan of the old style or the new, there is sure to be an Irish instrumental musician out there who will appeal to you!

What is Traditional Irish Instrumental Folk Music?

Traditional Irish instrumental folk music is the music of the people of Ireland. It is the music of the Irish heart and soul. This type of music is usually played on traditional instruments such as the fiddle, the tin whistle, the bodhran, and the Irish flute. It is often lively and upbeat, and it always has a beautiful, Irish lilt to it. Traditional Irish instrumental folk music is the perfect way to add a little bit of Irish flair to any event.

Origins

Traditional Irish folk music is the folk music of Ireland. It developed from various influences on Irish society, ranging from the ancient Celtic culture to the modern day. Irish folk music has seen a great resurgence in popularity in recent years, with bands such as The Chieftains, The Dubliners and The Pogues becoming household names.

The most common instruments used in traditional Irish folk music are the fiddle, accordion, flute, penny whistle, tin whistle, bodhran (Irish drum), and uilleann pipes. Traditional songs often make use of simple ballad forms and tell stories of love, loss, migration, conflict and struggle. Many of these songs are centuries old, and have been passed down through the generations by oral tradition.

While traditional Irish music is sometimes considered to be purely instrumental, there are also many traditional songs that make use of lyrics in both English and Irish (Gaelic). These lyrics often deal with topics such as politics, religion and local folklore.

Characteristics

Traditional Irish instrumental folk music is a musical genre that developed in Ireland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterized by intricate melodies, often played on fiddles or other stringed instruments, and by a highly ornamented style of playing known as “rolling”.

Traditional Irish instrumental folk music is generally played solo, but can also be performed in ensembles of two or more musicians. In some cases, such as when playing for dancing, the music may be accompanied by percussion instruments such as bodhrans or bones.

The repertoire of traditional Irish instrumental folk music consists primarily of dances, such as jigs, reels, polkas, and hornpipes. Other types of tunes include slow airs, waltzes, and slip jigs.

Traditional Irish instrumental folk music has been influenced by a number of other genres, including classical music, Scottish and English folk music, and American jazz.

Instruments

The bodhrán is a frame drum of Irish origin, fashioned from wood and animal skin, with a goatskin (or sometimes fishskin) head. The rim is usually made of bent aluminium or lacquered wood and the tension of the head is controlled by a tuning device located inside the frame. It is beaten with a stick, called a tipper, which is also used to produce various sounds on the instrument by striking it on the side of the frame. The size of the bodhrán varies considerably, although most drums have a diameter between 15 and 25 inches (38–64 cm).

The fiddle is a stringed instrument that has been known in Ireland since the 16th century. It probably arrived in its current form during the 18th century, and was developed further in the 19th century by players such as Michael Coleman and Paddy killington. The fiddle was formerly known as the violin in Ireland, but adopted its current name when it became popular as an folksy instrument played solo or in small groups in rural areas as well as at social gatherings such as house parties and sessions in public houses.

The flute is a woodwind instrument that has been played in Ireland since the 18th century. It was initially used mainly for traditional Irish dance music, but has since become popular for other genres such as classical music and Irish folk music. The flute is typically made from wooden or metal tubing with numerous holes along its length that are covered by fingers to produce different notes.

The uilleann pipes are bellows-blown bagpipes that were developed in Ireland during the 18th century. They are played by means of a set of valves that open and close to allow air to enter or exit different sections of pipe. This type of pipe is unique to Ireland and is thought to be an evolution of earlier European bagpipes such as the Scottish Great Highland bagpipe and the English Northumbrian smallpipe.

The accordion is a portable keyboard instrument that was introduced to Irish music during the 19th century. It quickly became popular because of its portability and ability to produce a wide range of sounds. The accordion consists of two sets of reeds that vibrate when air passes through them, producing sound. The pitch of the sound depends on which set of reeds is activated and how much air is allowed to pass through them.

The History of Traditional Irish Instrumental Folk Music

Traditional Irish instrumental folk music has been around for centuries and has been passed down through the generations. It is a form of music that is unique to Ireland and its people. The music is usually played on traditional Irish instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, and bodhran. It is often upbeat and lively, and can be heard at Irish festivals and events around the world.

Early History

The early history of traditional Irish instrumental folk music is, unsurprisingly, closely bound up with the history of Ireland itself. Instruments such as the Celtic harp, fiddle, and uilleann pipes (a type of bagpipe) have been found in archaeological excavations dating back to the Bronze Age, and it is clear that music played an important role in the lives of the ancient Celts. In fact, one of the most famous Irish historical texts – The Tain Bo Cuailgne – even features a battle which was won due to the distraction caused by a bard playing his harp!

during the medieval period, Ireland was divided into a number of small kingdoms – each with its own distinct culture and customs. Many of these kingdoms had their own courtly traditions of music and dance, which were enjoyed by both nobility and commoners alike. It was during this time that some of the most famous Irish musical instruments were developed, including the wire-strung Gaelic harp and the crwth (a type of bowed string instrument).

As Ireland began to come under English control in the late medieval period, many aspects of Irish culture – including music – came under attack. The English ruling class saw traditional Irish music as being backwards and primitive, and actively discouraged its practice. This attitude continued into the early modern period, when many Irish people were forced to leave their homeland due to political or economic reasons.

It was only in the late 18th century – when a renewed interest in traditional cultures began to sweep Europe – that traditional Irish music began to be appreciated once again. Thanks to collectors such as Edward Bunting and Francis O’Neill, many hundreds of tunes were preserved for future generations. These tunes are still played by traditional musicians today, keeping alive an important part of Ireland’s musical heritage.

The Irish Traditional Music Revival

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a roots revival in Ireland. This was a time when people became interested in the traditional music of their country, and began playing it again. Some traditional musicians, like Seamus Ennis and Joe Heaney, had been keeping the music alive in their own way, but now there was a new movement of performers and composers who were determined to make Irish traditional music popular again.

One of the most important things that happened during the Irish Traditional Music Revival was the formation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE), an organization dedicated to promoting Irish music and culture. CCE helped to organize festivals and concerts, and offered classes in traditional instrumental and vocal music. They also started a magazine, Treoir (which means “guide” or “directions”), which published articles about Irish music and musicians.

The Revival also saw the publication of a number of important collections of traditional Irish music, including The Brendan Breathnach Collection (1967), The Hugh Shields Collection (1969), O’Neill’s Music of Ireland (1970), and The Edward Bunting Collection (1974). These collections contained hundreds of tunes that had been collected from oral tradition, and they were an invaluable resource for musicians who wanted to learn more about Irish traditional music.

The Revival also gave rise to a number of important traditional Irish bands, including The Chieftains, Planxty, Liam O’Flynn’s Piper’s Club, The Bothy Band, Stockton’s Wing, Altan, De Dannan, Moving Hearts, Clannad, Anuna, Danú, Solas, Lankum (formerly Lynched), We Banjo 3 and The Gloaming. These bands brought Irish traditional music to a wider audience than ever before, and many of them continue to perform and record today.

Contemporary Traditional Irish Instrumental Folk Music

Contemporary traditional Irish instrumental folk music has its roots in the music of the people who immigrated to Ireland from Great Britain and France during the eighteenth century. These people brought with them their own musical traditions, which were then assimilated into the existing Irish musical culture. The resulting hybrid music was characterised by its use of traditional Irish instruments, such as the tin whistle, fiddle, and bodhran, as well as by its incorporation of elements of both British and French folk music.

Today, traditional Irish instrumental folk music is enjoyed by people all over the world, and is particularly popular in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It has also been influential in the development of other genres of music, such as Celtic rock and Celtic fusion.

Conclusion

Instrumental Irish folk music is a popular genre that has its roots in the traditional music of Ireland. Though it is often played on traditional Irish instruments such as the fiddle, flute, and guitar, it can also be played on other instruments such as the piano and banjo. Many of the most popular Irish folk songs are instrumentals, and many of these have been adapted for use in other genres of music such as Celtic rock and roll and Celtic punk.