Authentic Irish music is easy to recognize; the light jigs, fiddles, and bagpipes all give it a sound that is fun to dance and listen to. However, the complexities of Irish folk and dance music are numerous, every little detail adds to the puzzle that makes it so pleasant.
When reflecting upon Irish music, it is crucial to note the instruments present and recognize their importance in the ensemble as a whole. In Gavin’s audio CD titled Ireland, every instrument present, including guitars, bagpipes, whistles, flutes, drums, and fiddles, plays a very important role in producing the full, bright, easily identifiable sound. The guitar, for example, acts underneath the ensemble to provide rhythm and a moving bass or baritone line where no other …show more content…
This job can also be doubled or passed entirely to a voice, flute, or whistle, which all change the intricacies, range, and tone of the melody. In track 10 of the CD, titled “The Bantry Girls’ Lament”, a characteristic female voice fits the melody much more than a fiddle or a flute would. The woman’s tone can easily shift and slide, is very calm, and makes the lament sound as a lament should, calm and sad. Also, because this piece is sung, words may be used where, in a purely instrumental piece, they could not. The voice can inflect the lyrics as she wishes, emphasizing a meaning that may not have been found without words. A very distinctive characteristic of Irish singing is that the vowels and consonants are closed off very quickly and a heavy vibrato is encouraged. This produces a brighter tone than modern Western music and the music of other European countries, who generally prefer a more open, operatic …show more content…
A vocalist, especially, slides around and sounds, to an ear accustomed to modern Western music, like it goes flat. This adds to the character of Irish pieces, making them easy to listen and relate to, even folksy. This style of music also follows a very simple pattern a majority of the time- ABAB- with a refrain and verse repeating multiple times by different instruments. This also makes it easy to dance to and fun to experience live. This high quality recording, for example, was taken live at a variety of shows throughout
When reflecting upon Irish music, it is crucial to note the instruments present and recognize their importance in the ensemble as a whole. In Gavin’s audio CD titled Ireland, every instrument present, including guitars, bagpipes, whistles, flutes, drums, and fiddles, plays a very important role in producing the full, bright, easily identifiable sound. The guitar, for example, acts underneath the ensemble to provide rhythm and a moving bass or baritone line where no other …show more content…
This job can also be doubled or passed entirely to a voice, flute, or whistle, which all change the intricacies, range, and tone of the melody. In track 10 of the CD, titled “The Bantry Girls’ Lament”, a characteristic female voice fits the melody much more than a fiddle or a flute would. The woman’s tone can easily shift and slide, is very calm, and makes the lament sound as a lament should, calm and sad. Also, because this piece is sung, words may be used where, in a purely instrumental piece, they could not. The voice can inflect the lyrics as she wishes, emphasizing a meaning that may not have been found without words. A very distinctive characteristic of Irish singing is that the vowels and consonants are closed off very quickly and a heavy vibrato is encouraged. This produces a brighter tone than modern Western music and the music of other European countries, who generally prefer a more open, operatic …show more content…
A vocalist, especially, slides around and sounds, to an ear accustomed to modern Western music, like it goes flat. This adds to the character of Irish pieces, making them easy to listen and relate to, even folksy. This style of music also follows a very simple pattern a majority of the time- ABAB- with a refrain and verse repeating multiple times by different instruments. This also makes it easy to dance to and fun to experience live. This high quality recording, for example, was taken live at a variety of shows throughout