Traditional Irish Music
Sean Nós means "old style". It is a style of singing dating back hundreds of years which was handed down orally from generation to generation. It is a really good example of "pure" traditional Irish music. The words are more important than the tunes. Rhythm is dictated by speech rhythms.
The main features of Sean Nós are;
Ornamentation. Sean nós singers use ornamentation to to express emotion.
Ornamentation is usually improvised, therefore a song would never be performed the same way twice. Ornamentation can be melodic or rhythmic.
Free rhythm/metre. Notice that you can't tap your foot with the beat of a Sean Nós song. Ther is no pulse.
Solo singing (unaccompanied). No instrumental accompaniement, just voice and nothing else!
Variation. The tune and rhythm of songs are varied from verse to verse and from performance to performance.
Personal styles. Singers often develop their own style of performance.
Regional Styles. In the past, singers would learn to sing by listeneing to other singers in their region. This gave rise to regional styles of singing much the same as accents in language. The regions are; Connemara, (highly ornamental) West Cork/Kerrry, (nasalisation and glottal stop) West Waterford, and Donegal (simpler more melodic style).
No Dynamics Dynamics is a classical means of expression, not used by Sean Nós singers.
Collections of Sean Nós songs include "Amhrán Ar an Sean Nós", an RTE series of field recordings, and field recordings by Seamus Ennis.
Singers of Sean Nós include Noirín Ó Roinn, Joe Heaney, Aodh Ó Domhnall.
Songs we've listened to in class include, "An Sagairtín" "Anach Chuain" (boating tragedy) and "Bean an Fhir rua" (love song)
These songs were usually about local events like boating tragedies etc. and were performed at events like wakes and weddings.
The main features of Sean Nós are;
Ornamentation. Sean nós singers use ornamentation to to express emotion.
Ornamentation is usually improvised, therefore a song would never be performed the same way twice. Ornamentation can be melodic or rhythmic.
Free rhythm/metre. Notice that you can't tap your foot with the beat of a Sean Nós song. Ther is no pulse.
Solo singing (unaccompanied). No instrumental accompaniement, just voice and nothing else!
Variation. The tune and rhythm of songs are varied from verse to verse and from performance to performance.
Personal styles. Singers often develop their own style of performance.
Regional Styles. In the past, singers would learn to sing by listeneing to other singers in their region. This gave rise to regional styles of singing much the same as accents in language. The regions are; Connemara, (highly ornamental) West Cork/Kerrry, (nasalisation and glottal stop) West Waterford, and Donegal (simpler more melodic style).
No Dynamics Dynamics is a classical means of expression, not used by Sean Nós singers.
Collections of Sean Nós songs include "Amhrán Ar an Sean Nós", an RTE series of field recordings, and field recordings by Seamus Ennis.
Singers of Sean Nós include Noirín Ó Roinn, Joe Heaney, Aodh Ó Domhnall.
Songs we've listened to in class include, "An Sagairtín" "Anach Chuain" (boating tragedy) and "Bean an Fhir rua" (love song)
These songs were usually about local events like boating tragedies etc. and were performed at events like wakes and weddings.
Rock
The Horslips (“Sword of light” and “Trouble with a Capital T” from their Book of Invasions album), and Thin Lizzy (“Whiskey in the Jar” and Róisín Dubh”) mixed trad with Rock. Lizzy used standard rock instruments, guitars and drums and the Horslips added fiddle, flute and mandolin to this Rock set up.
Celtic punk was essentially invented by The Pogues in the early 1980s and immediately gained popularity following the release of their first album in 1985.They included drums, bass, guitar, and fiddle, sometimes with tin whistle, bodhran, or accordion. The sound is typically fast with aggressive lyrics, rock beats, and melodies. Bands in this genre includeFlogging Molly and The Molly Magures.
Celtic punk was essentially invented by The Pogues in the early 1980s and immediately gained popularity following the release of their first album in 1985.They included drums, bass, guitar, and fiddle, sometimes with tin whistle, bodhran, or accordion. The sound is typically fast with aggressive lyrics, rock beats, and melodies. Bands in this genre includeFlogging Molly and The Molly Magures.