Traditional Irish Music
The Harp
In the middle ages (around the 15th Century) in Ireland, harpers were highly respected members of society, employed to play at banquets and events like weddings and victory celebrations, by the nobility in Big Houses and Castles. They composed and performed tunes in honour of their patrons, called Planxties, e.g. Planxty Irwin.
The harping tradition went into serious decline during Penal times (17th Century) as anything relating to Irish culture was oppressed by the English monarchy. Ironically, Irelands most famous Harper, Turlough Carolan came from this period.
The Belfast harp festival took place in 1792, aiming to revive the harping tradition. Many of the old tunes had been lost and forgotten as they weren’t written down. At the harp festival, tunes being played by the old harpers were notated (written down), to preserve them. Edward Bunting is an example of a collector who was hired to notate tunes at the festival. The oldest surviving harp is on display in Trinity College. It's called the Brian Boru harp and it is the Harp that our national emblem is modelled on. Derek Bell of the Chieftains and Gráinne Yeats are examples of Harpists from modern times. Today the Harp is flourishing again with many children attending classes, taking exams and taking part in performances.
The harping tradition went into serious decline during Penal times (17th Century) as anything relating to Irish culture was oppressed by the English monarchy. Ironically, Irelands most famous Harper, Turlough Carolan came from this period.
The Belfast harp festival took place in 1792, aiming to revive the harping tradition. Many of the old tunes had been lost and forgotten as they weren’t written down. At the harp festival, tunes being played by the old harpers were notated (written down), to preserve them. Edward Bunting is an example of a collector who was hired to notate tunes at the festival. The oldest surviving harp is on display in Trinity College. It's called the Brian Boru harp and it is the Harp that our national emblem is modelled on. Derek Bell of the Chieftains and Gráinne Yeats are examples of Harpists from modern times. Today the Harp is flourishing again with many children attending classes, taking exams and taking part in performances.
This is what the old Irish Harp would have sounded like. The wire strings ring on for a long time.
Moving Hearts and Planxty
Bands like Planxty, Sweeney’s Men, The Bothy Band and the Chieftains became popular at an exciting time, the late 60s and early 70s, a period of the Irish music revival. Planxty was formed in the late 60s’ and at that time they brought something new and refreshing to Irish music. Dónal Lunny(Bouzouki, guitar, and keyboard) is the musical brain behind Planxty and he went on to produce recordings for most of the top Irish acts. Andy Irvine plays mandolin, mandola and harmonica. Liam óg Ó Floinn plays pipes and whistle while the most famous is Christy Moore (Vocals and guitar and bódhrán). Their interesting arrangements featured intricate counter melodies, unusual instrumental combinations, and driving rhythms which complimented the ancient songs.
Songs like “Three Drunken Maidens”, “The Cliffs of Dooneen” and “The Blacksmith” are examples of their best known songs.
In the 1980’s, Moving Hearts (“McBrides” and “Category”) driven by Dónal Lunny, influenced their contemporaries and those future musicians to combine traditional music with an exciting mix of Rock and Jazz. They combined Pipes (Davey Spillane) Low Whistle and dance music with Drums, Guitars, Keyboards, Bouzouki, Soprano Saxophone (Keith Donald), and an extensive array of Percussion instruments (Noel Eccles of the National Symphony Orchestra). The Moving Hearts video below comes from a re-union gig a few years ago.
Songs like “Three Drunken Maidens”, “The Cliffs of Dooneen” and “The Blacksmith” are examples of their best known songs.
In the 1980’s, Moving Hearts (“McBrides” and “Category”) driven by Dónal Lunny, influenced their contemporaries and those future musicians to combine traditional music with an exciting mix of Rock and Jazz. They combined Pipes (Davey Spillane) Low Whistle and dance music with Drums, Guitars, Keyboards, Bouzouki, Soprano Saxophone (Keith Donald), and an extensive array of Percussion instruments (Noel Eccles of the National Symphony Orchestra). The Moving Hearts video below comes from a re-union gig a few years ago.