Is Folk Style Music Celtic?

There is a lot of debate about what classifies as Celtic music. In this blog post, we explore the origins of folk style music and how it has evolved over the years.

Introduction

Folk style music is a type of music that is typically passed down through generations orally, and Celtic folk music is a subgenre of folk music that originates from the Celtic cultures of Europe. While there is no definitive answer to whether or not all folk style music is Celtic, there are certainly many elements of Celtic music that can be found in folk style music from other cultures.

What is Celtic Music?

Celtic music is a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe. It refers to both orally-transmitted traditional music and recorded music and the styles vary considerably by region. Celtic music has been influenced by many other genres, including rock, pop and classical.

The earliest form of Celtic music was probably the work songs of the Celtic farmers and herdsmen. These songs were often used to coordinate work tasks or pass the time while traveling. As the Celts began to interact with other cultures, their music began to change and incorporate new influences. For example, the introduction of the Roman soldiers brought about changes in Celtic music, as did the arrival of Christianity.

During the Middle Ages, much of Europe was united under a single political entity, the Catholic Church. This led to a standardization of music throughout the continent, and Celtic music began to lose some of its regional character. By the Renaissance period, Celtic music had become quite disparate, with different regions developing their own distinct styles.

In more recent times, there has been a revival of interest in traditional Celtic music, particularly in Ireland and Scotland. This has led to a renewed appreciation for the distinctiveness of Celtic music and its various regional forms.

The Origins of Celtic Music

Celtic music is a genre of folk music that has its origins in the cultures of the Celtic people. The Celtic people are a group of people who have their origins in Europe and who share a common Celtic culture. Celtic music is often characterized by its use of traditional instruments, such as the fiddle, bagpipe, and accordion, and its use of traditional songs, such as ballads and reels. Celtic music has also been influenced by other genres of music, such as American folk music and rock music.

The Celtic Revival

The Celtic Revival (also referred to as the Celtic revival movement) refers to a number of connected movements and events, mostly taking place in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which revive or draw on the traditions of Celtic art, culture and music. The Revival also had a political dimension as it expressed anti-colonial nationalism and helped to shape a distinctly Celtic national identity.

There were three main currents to the Celtic Revival:
1) an intellectual movement which drew on Celtomania – the idea that everything related to the Celts was superior;
2) a specifically Irish national current which advocated the union of Ireland with Great Britain in order to preserve Irish culture;
3) a Scottish national current which aimed to create a distinct Scottish identity.

The revival was based on two key romantic notions: that the Celtic peoples were intrinsically creative and that they had been suppressed or marginalized by invasions from outside. This led many revivalists to seek out what they saw as lost or forgotten vestiges of traditional Gaelic and Welsh culture, including:
-the Highland Games;
-the Welsh Eisteddfod;
-Gaelic games such as shinty and hurling;
-old Gaelic songs and poetry;
-stories and legends from oral tradition;
-Gaelic names.

Celtic Music Today

Folk music has always been a part of the Celtic tradition, and it continues to play an important role in Celtic culture today. While there is no one definitive answer to the question of what exactly constitutes Celtic music, there are certain elements that are often found in Celtic folk songs. These include references to historical events and figures, as well as traditional instruments such as the fiddle, accordion, and bodhrán. Celtic music often has a nostalgic or romantic bent, and its lyrics often deal with themes of loss and longing. Ultimately, whether or not a particular piece of music can be considered Celtic will come down to a matter of personal opinion.

Conclusion

No, not all folk style music is Celtic. Celtic music is a specific genre with its own distinct sound, instruments, and history. While some folk music may have Celtic influence or roots, not all of it can be classified as such.