Adam Lehman

Dr. John McGinn

Music 357

15 May 2019

Irish Traditional Music

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

cross-pollination of different cultures and styles.

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

rich mythic folklore and tales of the Irish landscape.

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

continues to be a treasured part of Irish culture and way of life.