Additional Resources
Irish Culture – Music, Irish Traditional Music and Bands, Kila, AfroCelt Soundsystem, Solas, Karan Casey, Martin Hayes
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Irish Music, Peace, Politics, and Popular Culture |
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This week, we watched an amazing BBC documentary video to help provide a broad overview of one aspect of Irish Music and a beginning introduction to some key people, places and ideas. Students started their own cybersleuthing journeys to begin investigating/exploring things that personally resonate afer having viewed this documentary. They will compile and organize, as they proceed, a categorized list of ideas, questions, sources and links. They'll be able to cull from this list, many ideas and sources for their formative blog postings, their summative VoiceThread work, and their annotated webliographies.
Additional Resources Irish Culture – Music, Irish Traditional Music and Bands, Kila, AfroCelt Soundsystem, Solas, Karan Casey, Martin Hayes
21 Comments
Valerie B.
2/3/2013 04:49:38 am
After watching the video above, the most interesting aspect that stands out to me are the instruments used. The specific ones that catch my eye are fiddles and bouzoukis. Before this video, I have never even heard of a bouzouki. This led me to look more into the instrument. The best way to describe it is a miniature guitar except it has four strings and a round base. For great imagery and more information on the origin of the Irish bouzouki you can go to http://www.china2galway.com/bouzouki%20style%20Irish%20Bouzouki.htm. Then there are fiddles, which are very similar to violins. The fiddle has spread from Europe to America and much more. If you are as intrigued as I am, you can visit http://www.fiddlingaround.co.uk/ireland/index.html for the history and other information about the fiddle. The fiddle is an instrument that represents a lot of Irish and Scottish traditions.
Suzie L.
2/3/2013 06:30:56 am
I was really interested in Irish instruments, too, because I play instruments! I want to learn how to play bouzouki. I have never heard about it either. When I first saw it, I thought it looked a lot like a banjo. Also, I always thought fiddle and violin were the same instruments, but I don't think they are exactly the same. I think fiddle is more for folk songs, whereas violin is for classical music?
Pratibha A.
2/3/2013 07:51:54 am
Check out this website for a chart that compares the fiddle to the violin:
Lubna
2/4/2013 06:47:17 am
Val, I used to play the violin and let me tell you it is not easy. The fiddler players you see are very talented, it is most definitely very difficult. But if I were to learn and be good at an Irish instrument I would choose the bagpipes, although some people get irritated with the sound they produce, I think that it is breath-taking. It would be hard to learn but I'm sure it would be worth it. Below is a video I found demonstrating just how difficult it is to learn to play the bagpipes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kXfywaiAjo
Taryn O.
2/3/2013 06:09:34 am
Irish music and politics have an intertwined relationship, where they effect each other in ways that are incredible. Throughout history, this seemed to be especially true in the Republic, where the Nationalists were advocating for a United Ireland, and a break away from British rule. This is evidenced by the Hunger Strike of 1981. This was a protest by Republican prisoners that were being held in Northern Ireland. At this time, many Irish musicians, like Christy Moore and the Moving Hearts, began singing about these relevant topics and allowing the Irish people the personalize these issues.
Suzie L.
2/3/2013 06:24:29 am
To some people, music can be just fun as a type of entertainment. That’s fine. How great is it that people can achieve happiness through music? For Irish people, however, music was more than beats and notes; for them, music is their culture, politics, history, and their lives. Through many hardships and troubles in many events in their history, music was a means of expressing their emotions, and it was their long-lasting friend that was always there for them.
Howe Qiu
2/3/2013 09:09:25 am
<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hgAqO6miVqs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Suzie L.
2/5/2013 11:01:49 am
Yeah! When I was researching about Irish music, I found out about U2. I actually watched a video on Youtube, and it turns about it's an Irish rock band. This kind of struck me because I didn't associate Irish music with rock. Also, it's amazing how long they have been performing. The group was formed in 1976, they did a world tour from 2009 to 2011, and they still continue to perform!
Jamal Z.
2/25/2013 05:23:47 am
Howe, I'm really pleased with your post. Reason being, you have systematically analyzed lyrics from "Sunday Bloody Sunday." This makes it easier for readers like me to follow the claim, data, and warrant approach. I would recommend that you check out http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/11/rock-history-101-u2s-sunday-bloody-sunday/. This site explains some of the meaning behind lyrics in the aforementioned song. For example, it explains that “Don’t tell me about the rights of the IRA, UDA,” contributes to the idea that U2 is anti-terrorism. Furthermore, this site is excellent in its ability to follow the same claim, data, warrant method you have used. It is suggested that you visit this URL and analyze their perspective on these song lyrics.
Jamal Z.
2/3/2013 10:16:10 am
It wasn't until the 1990s that Ireland saw a comprehensive shift in the male dominated music scene. In 1990, as Mary Robinson was elected the first female president of Ireland, there was a shift in the mindset of Irish females from the "behind-the-curtain" contributors to the "forefront producers." In other words, Irish females who were overshadowed by the patriarchal infrastructure of Ireland and left to the duties of home-making thought of themselves in a new light after 1990; for example, singers like Mary Black, Sinead O'Connor, and Eleanor Mcevoy found themselves singing songs in the spotlight with their record "A Woman's Heart." The BBC documentary entitled "Irish Folk Music Revival" focuses on a male dominated music scene from the late 1800s to the late 1900s; however, it is important not to forget the immense burden placed on women for home making during this time. The changing roles of women as pop artists was a radical thought in the Irish patriarch before the twenty-first century; by the same token, it was an uneasy thought for women that they would continue their sole status as home-makers. Rather, a new generation of women occupied social culture in Ireland and abroad. For example, it wasn’t until 1995 that Sinead O’Connor, or any Irish woman for that matter, was invited for an MTV multi-artist special. The international recognition of female Irish singers was an immense leap towards consolidating changing women roles in the Irish community.
Pratibha A.
2/9/2013 04:45:21 am
In response to the question you posed, I think that the "community at large" has accepted the emergence of women Irish folk singers fairly well (as is evidenced by the commercial success that many Irish women musicians have had). Having said that, I think that true Irish folk music still remains a niche in the music world and even artists like Enya hasn't enjoyed fame at the level of some pop superstars.
Kristie H
2/3/2013 10:41:17 am
There are many aspects that define culture and music is one important defining factor for the Irish. While watching the documentary, it was interesting to see that even though I am not very familiar with Irish music or artists, I could feel an aura of Irish being given off. The music may have evolved from being very traditional to having a more pop/rock influence, but there is still that feeling of Irishness present in each. This comes from the style, instrumentation, and types of scales used. For example, Irish music uses the style of an upbeat tempo and the instrumentation of the fiddle was used, as opposed to other cultures like West African music which emphasizes rhythmic patterns. For more information, the website below compares different musical formats and scales across different cultures.
Stephanie Schrab
2/3/2013 11:36:38 am
Kevie
2/3/2013 12:12:28 pm
A national anthem represents a country and gives its singers a sense of pride. Amhrán na bhFiann, the national anthem of Ireland, has been a sore subject for some time. Political controversy over translation of the original English lyrics to Irish, a feeling that the militaristic lyrics are too out of date, and an ill representation of the excellence of Irish music surround Amhrán na bhFiann.
Rowena B.
2/3/2013 01:28:37 pm
Seeing the different Irish bands throughout the 20th century was one of my favorite aspects of the documentary. It was interesting to see the progression of popular Irish music as the century passed—with music varying from folk ballads to Rock ‘n Roll. Also, with songwriting as a hobby, it was interesting to note the different themes and topics used in Irish songs. Loves songs were naturally popular, but from what I saw in the video, there were numerous songs regarding historical events and politics. In fact, these political themes are so prominent that Wikipedia even categorizes Irish ballads as “Politics and Soldiering” and “Non-political.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irish_ballads). Why do you think that is?
Pratibha A.
2/3/2013 01:57:20 pm
In watching the assigned BBC documentary, I was opened up to a world of Irish music about which I was completely oblivious, save the few haphazard U2 songs. To me, the most engaging aspects of Irish music centered around how closely intertwined Irish music is with Ireland’s history and Irish people.
Ariel
2/3/2013 02:00:17 pm
In watching the BBC documentary assigned, what are the most engaging things you leaned about Irish music? What excellent sources can you identify to augment and deepen your beginning understanding of the history of this rich music and its cultural significance in the larger world? What are the things you have questions about and wish to learn as we proceed through this topic?
Lubna
2/3/2013 02:01:55 pm
As I was watching the documentary I was constantly thinking, wow I really like this music. But it wasn't till it was the very last third of the documentary when I realized how much I truly did like Irish music. As I was learning about the types of music that was coming out Ireland in the late 20th and early 21st century I couldn't help but recognize many of the songs. Most of the songs and artists that were mentioned are my Spotify playlist. These are songs that I have listened to over and over again, songs that I have loved for years. I thought this would be a perfect time to share a few of my favorite songs that are by Irish musicians.
Lubna
2/3/2013 02:07:18 pm
I forgot to mention a song that you all know and love, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison a Northern Irish singer-songwriter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqXSBe-qMGo
Pratibha
2/4/2013 05:51:47 am
Do you also like The Script? I didn't realize that they are Irish until I did some digging around online! And I'm not sure it you remember the song "Breathless" by The Corrs that came out about 10 years ago?
Tewoderos
2/4/2013 04:41:01 am
Before watching this documentary, I had little to no knowledge about the history of Irish music. In this documentary, I found songs that I really enjoyed and want to download to my phone. I specially loved the harmonic integration of the flute and harp in the traditional music, which motivated me to look for more harp and flute music on YouTube. In my search for harp and flute Irish music, I stumbled upon very many great songs, and the links to the once I liked the most are provided below. Leave a Reply. |