Irish Folk Music Essay, Research Paper
In ancient Ireland, music was an important part of life. It was played for Kings, Chiefs, and also for entertainment of the people. The first Irish tunes were played primarily on the harp. Professional harpers were honored above all other musicians and earned a high reputation for their music.
After a horrific war in Ireland in 1607, there was a heavy blow to the Gaelic order. Many towns were destroyed, and several of the music schools were shut down. Because most of the tunes were transmitted orally and never written down, most of the music was lost or forgotten. By the end of the eighteenth century, traditional Irish music and harpers were nearly extinct.
The Belfast Festival of 1792 was held to try an stimulate the rebirth of traditional harping, but only ended up preserving the last of its remains. A 19 year old church organist, Edward Bunting, was hired to write down the festivals tunes, and did do diligently. He found them so wonderful, that he continued to collect traditional Irish music throughout his life. We owe much of the knowledge we have today to Bunting’s work.
Though the harp was one of the most prominent instruments in traditional Irish music, there were several that were used. Bagpipes, flutes, whistles, fiddles, and harmonicas were also used along with the human voice to make up the music that we know today. The transmission of these Irish tunes were passed from generation to generation through performance and memory instead of writing and print. Even though the tunes of the ancient Irish harp were lost and forgotten, traditional Irish music still lives today.
Some distinct characteristics of traditional Irish music include its constantly changing composition. A large body of inherited music in incorporated into todays music, but it does not form a static repertory. It is very conservative in its tendency, and changes slowly, but is constantly doing so. Being an oral type of music, it has a greater state of fluidity than notation based songs. Mood and theme are very important in the music, and the same melody can often be heard throughout the same pieces.
In the mid twentieth century, Irish folk music became more and more popular in Eastern America. In Southern Appalachia the music was a powerful form of entertainment. Folks would gather just to hear the music, and dance and socialize. Some talented Appalachia families even gained air-time in the first half of the century. This simple form of acoustic music was becoming increasingly popular in places outside Europe.
Performers of traditional Irish music are usually unpaid. They perform for entertainment and recreational purposes, and to conserve the music instead of for monetary gain. Solo performances are traditional, but group performances are most common today. Most singers can not read music, they write them down only to aid in memory. Music is never used in performances, the performers rely only on their memory.
Traditional Irish music is a very beautiful and uplifting style of music. Even though much of todays Irish music is only the remnants of the actual traditional music, the mood and style still shines through.
Bibliography
Siegmister, Elie. The Music Lovers Handbook. Harvey House Publishers, 1973.
“Anicent Music of Ierland.” Online. America on Line 29 Feb. 2000.
*home.worldnet.fr./~pyberta/ceol.*
Другие работы по теме:
Being A Musician Essay Research Paper Music
Being A Musician Essay, Research Paper Music is an ever-changing style. People listen to music of all types everyday. What most people don’t know is what it takes to make that music they listen to. Today’s music is a lot different than music prior to the 80’s. Machines can almost do all the work for some of the songs you hear on the radio today, but there are still some groups who do it the real way.
Folk Vs Rock Essay Research Paper Music
Folk Vs Rock Essay, Research Paper Music is the way we speak, who we are, where we came from, what we feel, the things we remember, and music often communicates the things we are unable to. I have an extensive group of friends. The biggest difficulty I?ve noticed about this is our music tastes. Riding in the car is often like attending a court hearing over control over the c.d. player.
Villa Lobos Essay Research Paper Heitor VillaLobosHeitor
Villa Lobos Essay, Research Paper Heitor Villa-Lobos Heitor Villa-Lobos was born on March 5th, 1887, in Rio de Janeiro. Villa-Lobos lacked much formal education, and found he had to make a living for himself. He proceeded to perform on guitar in local restaurants and theatre orchestras. The music he performed consisted of the popular music of the time in Brazil.
Music Appreciation Essay Research Paper Music App9
Music Appreciation Essay, Research Paper Music App.9 May 1999 I went to this thinking it was a Musical Event with a Symphony,so I told my daughter about it and talked her into going with me. When we got thereand were seated I realized there was no Symphony. On stage there were two blackgrand pianos facing each other.
Various Styles And Types Of Music Essay
, Research Paper The names of the various styles and types of music culturally associated with my country are at first there is folk music and then there is urban music then comes all the
Cajun Folk Songs Essay Research Paper Belle
Cajun Folk Songs Essay, Research Paper Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie The music of the Renaissance Period was heard in our cathedrals, the Halls of Nobility, and even peoples’ homes. The Renaissance music was between the Medieval
Rip Van Winkle Essay Research Paper Rip
Rip Van Winkle Essay, Research Paper Rip Van Winkle is an interesting folk tale that tells the story of a lazy man who minded his own business. Many have heard the tale before, but few have actually read it. In
William Christopher Handy Essay Research Paper William
William Christopher Handy Essay, Research Paper William Christopher Handy Handy was an American black composer and compiler of “BLUES” music. He was born in Florence, Alabama. He was educated at the Negro Agricultural and
Music Essay Research Paper 3
Music Essay, Research Paper 3. J.S. Bach was an organist and choirmaster for Lutheran churches. Bach devoted his life to composing music for the church services. He wrote magnificent music for the organ, for choral groups, for clavier and harpsichord, for orchestra, and for small groups of instruments.
Music Writer Essay Research Paper Music WriterThe
Music Writer Essay, Research Paper Music Writer The job of being a music writer entails many things. As most people believe, they do more then criticize artists work. In an email interview between Steven Ward, and David McGee (a music writer), David tells of how he works for BarnesandNoble as a country music editor.
Enfluening OF Music Essay Research Paper This
Enfluening OF Music Essay, Research Paper This Essay is about how music can influence the emotions and effects of a person. I will be giving you precentages. I will also be giving you quotes of students
How American Music Has Changed Over The
Past 50 Years Essay, Research Paper How American Music Has Changed Over The Past 50 Years People have often wondered if music has always been around. Well, to answer that question I did some research to find out where our music originated. Our first reliable music records came from the Greeks and the Romans.
Medieval Music Essay Research Paper Music in
Medieval Music Essay, Research Paper Music in the middle ages is similar to the music that we listen to today in the way that there are many different types of music for different types of people. There were many types of music in the middle ages including Slavic, Jewish, Popular, middle eastern, and many other types of religious music as well as music for entertainment.
Untitled Essay Research Paper Music is an
Untitled Essay, Research Paper Music is an important aspect of tradition or culture. My family is influenced by different kinds of music arranged from folk to modern. My father and I are interested in western music. While, my mother is attracted to Asian music such as Chinese operas. My father?s taste in western music is due to an early age exposure to jazz by from grandfather.
Slow Dance Essay Research Paper S L
Slow Dance Essay, Research Paper S L O W D A N C E: *BR* *br* Have you ever watched kids*br* on a merry-go-round*br* Or listened to the rain*br* slapping on the ground?*br**br*
Of Famine And Green Beer Essay Research
Paper Many people today feel the celebration of St. Patrick?s Day is mostly associated with corned beef, cabbage and lots of beer. Some would add that parades including step dancing and music filled with the blare of bagpipes are integral to the festival as well.
Irish Clasical Musiv Essay Research Paper To
Irish Clasical Musiv Essay, Research Paper To most individuals Irish music brings a certain type of music to mind, jigs, reels hornpipes various types of dancing music. It may also bring to mind the common pub songs regarding war, love, sadness and of course emigration. Turlough O’carolan introduced a different flavor of Irish music that in some ways is still seen today.
Potato Essay Research Paper The Andean Mountains
Potato Essay, Research Paper The Andean Mountains of South America is the birthplace of the “Irish” white potato that we eat today. European immigrants introduced potatoes to North America several times throughout the 1600s, but they were not widely grown for almost a century. Not until 1719, when Irish immigrants brought the potato to Londonderry, New Hampshire, were potatoes grown on a large scale.
Napster Essay Research Paper There are many
Napster Essay, Research Paper There are many different controversies when consulting the topic on Napster. Napster is a computer program that lets people download mp3 music files from other people with the program. Lots of people and music companies believe that this is bad and Napster should be stopped or should charge people.
Rock Music Essay Research Paper ROCK
Rock Music Essay, Research Paper ROCK Rock does mean any relatively hard mass of mineral or petrified matter, or stone, but it is also a type of music. Rock is a type of music in which teens have always been associated with. Rock music has been around since the early to mid nineteen fifties and has emerged and changed throughout the years.
Country Music Essay Research Paper Country MusicToday
Country Music Essay, Research Paper Country Music Today, many people in the United States listen to country music. People have almost always listen to this type of music, from early rebels, to the families of today. The topic of true country music usually remains the same in all songs. The country atmosphere is more family oriented and provides children and all people with good role models.
Music 2
Music & Movies Essay, Research Paper Music & Movies This paper is based on what I know about music. Music is a way of life, and life would be a mistake without music. Music can encourage ones emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
Purpose Essay Research Paper MusicIn Aaron Copland
Purpose Essay, Research Paper Music In Aaron Copland s essay How We Listen to Music, he examines the three ways people listen to music. He calls the ways we listen to music planes . The three planes he examines are the Sensuous Plane, Expressive Plane, and Sheerly Musical Plane (400). He uses examples of each plane and how people use it.
Review Of Riverdance Essay Research Paper From
Review Of Riverdance Essay, Research Paper From the moment I started to get near the Gershwin Theatre I felt some kind of uplifting energy inside of me. As soon as I came to the doors I saw lot of people waiting to get in. All of us came for the same reason to see the ?Riverdance?. I felt very enthusiastic as I walked down the lobby to the escalators.
The Irish Question Essay Research Paper For
The Irish Question Essay, Research Paper For many weary years Home Rule or “The Irish Question” had confused the British Parliament. The Roman Catholic Irish despised the Union of 1801 that had abolished the Irish Parliament. It had not saved Ireland from appalling misery, death and depopulation in the famines of the mid-nineteenth century.
Chopin Essay Research Paper Chopin Chopin was
Chopin Essay, Research Paper Chopin Chopin was a Polish-born composer, one of the masters of piano composition. He wrote chamber music which is music for small groups of instruments, songs, and pieces for piano and orchestra. But his fame rests almost entirely on his more than 200 compositions for solo piano.He was born in Zelazowa-Wola, near Warsaw.He played the piano in public when he was only 8 years old.
Classical Music
’s Effects Essay, Research Paper Classical Music and its effects on the Neonate In Today s society music is very diverse. It produces feelings and emotions sensed by all walks of life. Different styles of music tend to give different ideas and impressions to people. It affects everyone it comes in contact with, and it is more powerful than we are willing to understand.
Indian Music Essay Research Paper 1 Music
Indian Music Essay, Research Paper 1) Music is the organisation of sounds with some degree of rhythm, melody, and harmony. 2) Popular Music is music produced for and sold to a broad audience. Indian popular music, which is most strongly influenced by Indian folk music is shaped by social, economic, and technological forces.