Irish Folk Music
What is Irish Folk Music?
The folk music of Ireland (also known as Irish traditional music, Irish trad, Irish folk music, and other variants) is the generic term for music that has been composed in it´s various forms and genres in Ireland.
In Gaelic Ireland there were at least ten instruments commonly used. The cruit, a small harp and clairseach, a bigger harp with typically 30 strings. The timpan which is a small string instrument played with a bow or plectrum. The feadan which is a fife. The buinne, an oboe or flute. The guthbuinne, a bassoon-type horn. The bennbuabhal and corn, these are types of hornpipes. The cuislenna, a form of bagpipes also knwon as Great Irish Warpipes. The stoc and sturgan which are clarions or trumpets and finally the cnamha which are castanets. There is also evidence of the fiddle being used as far back as the 8th century.
There are several collections of Irish folk music passed down by generation from the 18th century but it was not until the 19th century that ballad printers became established in Dublin. Though solo performance is preferred in the folk tradition, bands or small ensembles have probably been a part of Irish music since at least the mid-19th century.
Historically much old-time music of the USA grew out of the music of Ireland, England and Scotland, as a result of cultural diffusion. By the 1970s Irish traditional music was again influencing music in the USA and further afield in Australia and Europe. It has occasionally been fused with rock and roll, punk rock and other genres.
Where can I hear Irish Folk?
Folk and Honey have many Irish folk gigs, festivals and events listed here:
