Traditional Irish Music Collectors
Irish music was an oral tradition, that is, it was handed down orally from generation to generation, not written down. It would have become extinct had it not been for collectors, the people who wrote these tunes down . They obviously had to be able to read and write music. They had a very important role to play in the preservation of tunes. Edward Bunting is an example of a collector, who was employed at the Belfast Harp festival (1798) to listen to the music and write it down. He later travelled around Ireland collecting tunes. He published 3 volumes of music, The Ancient music of Ireland vol. 1 (1796), vol. 2 (1807) and vol. 3 (1840).
Other collectors include, Francis O’Neill, The Music of Ireland (1903), The Dance Music of Ireland (1907).
Other collectors include, Francis O’Neill, The Music of Ireland (1903), The Dance Music of Ireland (1907).
Songs
Songs were handed on orally from generation to generation. As they weren’t written down, lots of different versions of each song existed.
Song types include:
Love songs – She moved through the fair.
Laments (Goltraí) – An Mhaighdean Mhara
Working songs – Amhrán na Cuiginne
Religious songs and Carols – Don oíche úd I mBeithil
Patriotic songs – The bold Fenian Men
Aisling (dream or vision) – Táimse im Chodladh
Lullabies (Suantraí) – Deirín Dé
Humorous Songs – An Poc ar Buile
Dandling Songs – Beidh Aonach Amárach
Drinking Songs – Preab San Ól
Macaronic songs - (half in Irish and half in English)
Song types include:
Love songs – She moved through the fair.
Laments (Goltraí) – An Mhaighdean Mhara
Working songs – Amhrán na Cuiginne
Religious songs and Carols – Don oíche úd I mBeithil
Patriotic songs – The bold Fenian Men
Aisling (dream or vision) – Táimse im Chodladh
Lullabies (Suantraí) – Deirín Dé
Humorous Songs – An Poc ar Buile
Dandling Songs – Beidh Aonach Amárach
Drinking Songs – Preab San Ól
Macaronic songs - (half in Irish and half in English)
Seán O Riada
Séan Ó Riada in the 1959 composed Irish music with a classical flavour; (MISE ÉIRE, and SAOIRSE). These were performed by an orchestra, and contained classical harmony and dynamics. But the tunes were Irish (based on Irish modes). This idea of mixing styles was to inspire further generations of Irish musicians. Between 1961 and 1969 Ó Riada was leader of a "Celtic chamber orchestra" called Ceoltóirí Chualann. It included O'Riada, Paddy Moloney (pipes) Martin Fay (fiddle),Sean Keane (fiddle) Michael Tubridy (flute) Seán Ó Shea (singer)and Sean Potts (whistle).
Although they played in concert halls dressed in a black suits with white shirts and black bow ties, they played traditional songs and tunes which were arranged in a more interesting way than was usual in Irish music until then. Ó Riada sat in the middle at front playing bodhrán, an instrument that had almost died out, being played only by small boys in street parades. . He also wanted to use the wire-strung Harp for authenticity, but as these were as yet unavailable, he played the Harpsichord instead. Arrangements of tunes like Brian Boru's March and much of the music of 17th Century Harper, O'Carolan went on to inspire the formation of The Chieftains.
He also studied and collected old Irish music and produced a series for RTE called Our Musical Heritage
He died at the young age of 40 in 1971, but his enormous influence on others was only beginning.
Although they played in concert halls dressed in a black suits with white shirts and black bow ties, they played traditional songs and tunes which were arranged in a more interesting way than was usual in Irish music until then. Ó Riada sat in the middle at front playing bodhrán, an instrument that had almost died out, being played only by small boys in street parades. . He also wanted to use the wire-strung Harp for authenticity, but as these were as yet unavailable, he played the Harpsichord instead. Arrangements of tunes like Brian Boru's March and much of the music of 17th Century Harper, O'Carolan went on to inspire the formation of The Chieftains.
He also studied and collected old Irish music and produced a series for RTE called Our Musical Heritage
He died at the young age of 40 in 1971, but his enormous influence on others was only beginning.