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Jun 18, 2024 · 1. Fiddle. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another instrument more indicative of Celtic music than the fiddle. The fiddle is basically a violin. The body is the same, but a fiddle is often stringed with steel strings, while a violin uses nylon or gut strings. The playing style of a fiddle is slightly different as well.
The Fiddler, Strabane. The fiddle is one of the most important instruments in the traditional repertoire of Irish traditional music. The fiddle itself is identical to the violin, however it is played differently in widely varying regional styles. In the era of sound recording some regional styles have been transmitted more widely while others ...
- The Bodhrán. The Bodhrán Drum has been around for centuries and is one of the most popular Irish percussion instruments. Measuring between 25 and 65cm diameter and played in an upright position, it is covered with animal skin (usually goatskin) on one side and on the other side the hand controls the pitch and timbre.
- The Fiddle. Few Irish musical instruments bring a traditional music session alive like the fiddle and you’ll find it played in pubs across the country.
- The Harp. You can’t talk about Celtic instruments without mentioning the harp. According to Irish mythology, the first harp was owned by the Dagda from Tuatha dé Danann.
- Flute and Whistle. The flute and whistle are two of the more popular Irish instruments for playing Irish traditional music. The Flute, Tin Whistle and Low Whistle are all from the woodwind family.
- Clairseach (Celtic Harp) One of the most iconic Irish instruments is the Celtic harp which is a triangle-shaped string instrument whose first true representation dates to the late 11 century.
- Fife. Next, we have the Fife which is a high-pitched wind instrument similar to the Piccolo. The instrument’s body is filled with sound holes to produce notes when the finger is lifted to let the vibrating sounds escape.
- Uilleann Pipes. The Uilleann Pipes are a type of bagpipe and are a popular instrument in Irish culture. It was originally an instrument used in war, with the earliest Irish mention dating back to the 12 century, especially in Henry VIII’s siege of Boulogne.
- Fiddle. The fiddle, also called the violin, has strong historical roots in Ireland with some references even dating back as far as the 7 century when O’curry first mentioned it.
The Irish fiddle is a popular instrument played in Irish pubs. Modern performers include Tommy Peoples, Randal Bays, Gerry O'Connor, Martin Hayes, Kevin Burke, Sean Smyth, Marie Reilly, Bridget Regan, and many more. Sligo fiddlers like Michael Coleman made efforts to popularise Irish music in the states in the 1920s.
The fiddle was an ideal instrument for traditional Irish music, especially for the dance tunes. It broadened the horizons of traditional music, in terms of ornamentation and melodic variations: there was scope for ornamentation with both the fingers and the bow, and, as the notes were not fixed in pitch, as they were on the whistles and harps, there was a greater melodic range available to the ...
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The Irish Fiddle, central in Irish traditional music, is played in various regional styles. Its playing technique sets it apart. Masters such as James Morrison and Michael Coleman have made it popular worldwide. Its music includes both reels and slow airs, played with specific bowing techniques and ornamentation, the fiddle holds a longstanding ...
