Introduction:
Traditionally, Celtic music was that of the Celtic nations consisting of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, and Galicia. 'Celtic music' is however, a very loose term, as there is little surviving evidence as to where specifically it derived from. Many songs, bands, composers, and types of music both traditional and modern fall under the Celtic genre. ("What Is Celtic Music?")
Celtic music can be described as easy listening music with an Irish/Scottish flavor. The unique sound is achieved through their use of mixolydian and dorian modes as well as pentatonic scales. Ornamentation such as slurs, bends, and grace notes a common feature. Distinct melodies and movement along the primary chords are also common along with repeating themes and some improvisation. Instruments to be heard in Celtic music are the bagpipes, tin whistle, flute, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harp- and various means of percussion such as the Bodhrán drums. (“Celtic Instruments” ) Contemporary celtic music is music composed today that has a heavy celtic influence yet also that of pop, rock, folk, jazz, and more. There are Celtic rock bands, punk bands... all of which derive from Celtic traditional music. ("Contemporary Celtic Music.")
Celtic music can be described as easy listening music with an Irish/Scottish flavor. The unique sound is achieved through their use of mixolydian and dorian modes as well as pentatonic scales. Ornamentation such as slurs, bends, and grace notes a common feature. Distinct melodies and movement along the primary chords are also common along with repeating themes and some improvisation. Instruments to be heard in Celtic music are the bagpipes, tin whistle, flute, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harp- and various means of percussion such as the Bodhrán drums. (“Celtic Instruments” ) Contemporary celtic music is music composed today that has a heavy celtic influence yet also that of pop, rock, folk, jazz, and more. There are Celtic rock bands, punk bands... all of which derive from Celtic traditional music. ("Contemporary Celtic Music.")
Musical Analysis:
Extract 1 - "The Diamond Mountain" by Sharon Shannon
Sharon Shannon is an Irish musician / composer. She grew up constantly exposed to Irish folk music and her albums have been extremely successful in Ireland. ("Profile: Sharon Shannon.") "The Diamond Mountain" is from her album The Diamond Mountain Sessions, described here: "Joined by such guests as Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, John Prine, and Donal Lunny, master accordionist Sharon Shannon presides over a remarkable set of performances that puts Irish music into bold new contexts while also illuminating the music’s influence on other genres." ("The Diamond Mountain Sessions by Sharon Shannon.")
Please click URL if embedded video does not work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Qe-VfrHQQ
Sharon Shannon is an Irish musician / composer. She grew up constantly exposed to Irish folk music and her albums have been extremely successful in Ireland. ("Profile: Sharon Shannon.") "The Diamond Mountain" is from her album The Diamond Mountain Sessions, described here: "Joined by such guests as Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, John Prine, and Donal Lunny, master accordionist Sharon Shannon presides over a remarkable set of performances that puts Irish music into bold new contexts while also illuminating the music’s influence on other genres." ("The Diamond Mountain Sessions by Sharon Shannon.")
Please click URL if embedded video does not work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Qe-VfrHQQ
The Diamond Mountain is a perfect example of contemporary Celtic or Irish folk music. It has the celtic flavor to it, but there are other prominent influences in the style. The melody in this song uses a primarily pentatonic scale, however, the chord progression, use of a saxophone, and the improvisation by the saxophone, also give it a jazz flavor.
The melodies are structured with antecedent and consequent phrasing, a call and reply structure played on the mandolin. Melodic unison can be found between the mandolin and fiddle, and playful melodic dialogue can be found between the mandolin and saxophone and their complementing melodies near the end. Ornamentation, specifically the use of grace notes is a prominent element used throughout this piece to accentuate the melody.
The rhythm is moderate and mostly kept by the strumming of the guitar, however at some points rhythmic ostinato occurs with a quiet tapping sound.
These defining features and examples of their location within the piece are laid out in the table below.
The rhythm is moderate and mostly kept by the strumming of the guitar, however at some points rhythmic ostinato occurs with a quiet tapping sound.
These defining features and examples of their location within the piece are laid out in the table below.
Extract 2 - "Britches Full of Stitches" - An Irish Folk Song
This piece is a traditional and rather well known Irish folk song, here it is played by a class of student musicians in Ireland.
Please click URL if embedded video does not work; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iyfy--v1Mg
This piece is a traditional and rather well known Irish folk song, here it is played by a class of student musicians in Ireland.
Please click URL if embedded video does not work; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iyfy--v1Mg
Unlike Sharon Shannon's "The Diamond Mountain", this piece is a more traditional Celtic folk song. It is being played here in the key of A-major and uses a fully pentatonic scale. Its repetitive melody is structured in antecedent and consequent phrases that are played in unison throughout the piece. The melodic phrasing can be seen clearly in score:
The first four bars compose the antecedent phrase, and the next four, the consequent. The rest of the main theme is shown below, and this theme is repeated throughout the piece. When the voice enters to sing the line "All the britches full of stitches" there is musical dialogue between the voices and the instruments as they mimic each other.
There is even a unique use of percussion and rhythmic ostinato with the tapping of feet done by one member of the group. These musical features are summarized with their precise locations in the table below.
Summary
Celtic music has a very unique flavor and a bright, joyous sound. The elements that make up the musical language of Celtic/Irish folk music are: the use of modes- in this case the two extracts used mainly pentatonic scales, antecedent and consequent phrasing in melodies, repetitive themes, ornamentation, musical dialogue, and unison between instruments.
Sources:
Celtic Design. Digital image. Joanannlansberry. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015 <http://www.joanannlansberry.com/other/celtdsgn.jpg>
Celtic Music. Digital image. Sacred fire. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015 <http://www.sacredfire.net/images/misc/celtic_music.gif>
“Celtic Instruments” Ceolas. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/>.
"Contemporary Celtic Music." All Music. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.allmusic.com/style/contemporary-celtic-ma0000011819>.
"Profile: Sharon Shannon." Ceolas. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://ceolas.org/artists/Sharon_Shannon.html>.
"Britches Full of Stitches." Nigel Gatherer. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab11/brtch.html>.
Celtic Design. Digital image. Joanannlansberry. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015 <http://www.joanannlansberry.com/other/celtdsgn.jpg>
Celtic Music. Digital image. Sacred fire. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015 <http://www.sacredfire.net/images/misc/celtic_music.gif>
“Celtic Instruments” Ceolas. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/>.
"Contemporary Celtic Music." All Music. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.allmusic.com/style/contemporary-celtic-ma0000011819>.
"Profile: Sharon Shannon." Ceolas. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://ceolas.org/artists/Sharon_Shannon.html>.
"Britches Full of Stitches." Nigel Gatherer. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2015. <http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab11/brtch.html>.