Any music or discussion of music with an Irish traditional or folk basis, from old Irish harp music to Ceoltóirí Chualann and beyond is welcome. That includes traditional dance tunes, folk music, folk revival, Céilidh bands, modern art music, sean nós songs etc. (even Celt punk, if you want), in Irish or English.
Key Terms:
Jig: There are three types of jig: the single jig (6/8 w/quaver movement), double jig (6/8 w/crotchet-quaver movement) & slip-jig (9/8 w/quaver movement)
Reel: Written in 4/4, but played in 2/2 with 2 beats per bar
Hornpipe: Most modern hornpipes are in 4/4, but is more complicated with dotted rhythms and triplets frequently used
Slide: Played in 12/8 time, it is closely related to the jig
Polka: A very fast tune type in 2/4; more generic dance tune, but still played often in Irish traditional music
Highland: Related to Scottish highland flings, highlands are largely played in Co. Donegal. It is played with a dotted rhythm Alla Breve.
Sean Nós: A traditional style of singing consisting of one voice unaccompanied using plenty of ornamentation
Sliabh Luachra: An area in Munster containing parts of Cork, Kerry and Limerick which developed its own distinct playing style as distinct as Sligo, East Galway/Clare, Donegal
Ceoltóirí Chualann: A band formed by Seán Ó Riada, but the name now describes the style also. The music was orchestrated and styled after European art music, introducing features never seen in Irish music before (such as counterpoint). This is the style of music played by bands like The Chieftains.
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[–] ElvisChrist6 [S] ago
Michael Coleman was a Sligo fiddler who became the most influential fiddler in Irish music when he moved to America in 1914 and began recording 7 years later, overall recording roughly 80 78rpms while in America. These recordings made their way back across the Atlantic to Ireland where they became popular. Due to the aural nature of Irish music (almost nothing is notated), this was the first many in different parts of Ireland ever heard the Sligo style of fiddling and the tunes. People began imitating Coleman's style, making the Sligo style the most popular in Ireland and Michael Coleman the most influential fiddler of all time. This particular recording is, in my opinion, one of (if not the) best example of Irish fiddling ever cut. Coleman is accompanied by a guitar; though harmony is not part of traditional music, US influence naturally entered the music. Part of what I love is the style of guitar playing really fits the swing synonymous with the Sligo fiddle style, giving it an almost Jazz Manouche quality like Django Reinhardt's music.