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Irish Traditional Music
Irish Traditional Music
Irish Traditional Music
Music 357
15 May 2019
Irish Traditional Music has a long and wonderful history that is valued to this day by
Ireland’s native people. The music is celebrated across the world, and with its characteristic
sound, it is easily recognizable to people throughout Western music. While Irish Traditional
Music developed within a Western country, it grew in its own way that is distinct from the
Western Traditional classical music and is definitively its own being and within its music is the
In today’s world, Irish Traditional Music is usually referred to as “Celtic”. And while this
is technically true, it is incomplete. The word “Celtic” actually refers to multiple different
countries that exist within the Celtic Isles, including Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Isle of Man,
Brittany, and Wales. These regions each have their own similarities in myths, stories, music, and
landscapes, and due to their proximity to each other, exchanges often occurred between them.
That being said, each place has its own distinct characteristics, and the music of Ireland is one
example of this.
The musical instruments of Ireland are interesting in that some of them are the same
instruments that are commonly found in other styles of music. The way that these instruments are
used is what is distinct about Ireland’s music. Some of the familiar instruments used are the harp,
the fiddle or violin, the voice, the guitar, banjo, and many different percussion instruments. Some
instruments may seem familiar but are actually quite different, such as the Irish flute. The Irish
flute is traditionally made from wood, and traditionally made in the key of D. The traditional-
style flute has no actual keys, but six holes that are cut through the bore of the instrument and are
what give pitch. Modern variations on this type of flute may or may not have keys added to them
and can have anywhere from six to twelve keys added onto the instrument.
The method of playing the Irish flute also differs from standard flute technique. Unlike
other flute methods, articulation by the tongue is uncommon. The player actually ‘slaps’ the keys
when playing the fast and dance-like music, which gives the illusion of tonguing the instrument.
In addition to this, the bending of pitches is common and playing the flute often requires the use
of covering the holes of the instrument partly in order to get the proper note. Ornamentation is
common as well such as the trill, and it is one of the ways that makes Irish music distinct.
Another instrument, the bodhran, is a circular percussive instrument that traditionally was
made by the stretching of goatskin around the frame. This skin can then be tightened, or a hand
can be placed behind it to change the timbre and ring of the drum. The origins of the drum are
not entirely known. There is speculation that it could have been brought from by Roman Empire
while its influence was spreading into the various Celtic regions. It is also speculated that Arab
traders also could have brought other frame drums to the region.
The method of singing is particularly interesting in contrast to the type of music that is
common within the Western tradition. The Irish style of singing is highly ornamented and is
traditionally sung in Gaelic. It is usually sung sean nós, meaning “old-style”. Sean nós singing is
unaccompanied, and there are varying styles within the areas of Ireland. The placement of the
voice is generally very forward in the voice and stretches throughout the lower to mid-range of
the singer. Use of chest voice is primary, but there is a flip to head voice for color changes. The
singer will often slide to various notes, and like other forms of Irish music, ornamentation is very
common. The music repeats the melodies commonly and the singer is free to change the tune
slightly with their ornaments as they wish. This style of singing is done by both men and women.
The text of the music often is meant to tell a story, and it is often imagery that is found from the
The music itself has multiple different elements that make it distinct from other forms of
music. It is primarily modal in nature, but the modes that are most commonly used can vary
depending on the region. The primary modes used are Ionian, Dorian, and Mixolydian. In
addition to these modes, pentatonic and hexatonic scales are occasionally found as well. Being
an aural tradition, there is not actually a notated system that the Irish use. Ensemble music is
usually heterophonic with each singer playing the same melody and ornamenting slight
variations around it. The music is usually learned by ear, and the rhythms are felt. Rhythm is
another incredibly important part of Irish music. Some of the most famous forms of Irish music
are the various ‘jigs’ that have been developed. These jigs accompany the lively rhythmic
dancing, and there are multiple types of jigs that are used, including light, slip, double, and treble
jigs. The jigs are in 6/8 compound meter and each jig has a rhythmic pattern that is associated
with it.
The music of Ireland is diverse and is still a vibrant and growing tradition. It is
commonly imitated in modern media and can still be heard throughout Ireland in all of its
different forms and variations. The music captures the rich and diverse historical heritage of the
land. The music is truly a product of the landscape and the spirit of the people of Ireland, and it