05: (Pre)Modern traditions

• society: protestant ascendancy, famine, persecution, emigration

• stable period of elite and urban music culture

• movement of music between ireland, great britain and euope

• increasing influence of baroque music

• spread of english language ballads

• harp music of gaelic aristocracy

• european art music of protestant ascendency

• dance music of the gaelic speaking peasantry

• decline of harp-tradition —> english ascendency forbid the wire-strung-harp (national instrument of irish aristocracy)

  —> reduced number of travelling harpists

  —>

siobhan armstrong

carolans concerto

written by Turlough Carloan (17/18th century)

—> most important composer for harp and last bard

example for premodern harp music

modelled on vivaldis concerto

Laoise Kelly

Carolans Farewell To Music

—> slow tune written by Turlough Carloan (17/18th century) —> most important composer for harp and last bard

stood between old order gaelic tradition and new sovereignity of anglo-irish tradtion

example of time, when old tradition declined and new formed

—> composed when harp-tradition declined

—> reflects a much older style of gaelic harping

• end of patronage system

• harp music was passed to pipers and fiddlers

• increasing popularity of art and dance music

• rise of antiquarism

  —> interest in perserving anciet culture in ireland

  —> reinforced the narrative of the talent of irish traditional music and musicians

  —> music began to be associated with the creation of a national identity

  —> especially focused on harp-music —> belfast harp festival

  —> Edward Bunting: first of one of the great collectors

• most popular: country dance

• taught by dancing masters

• no set rhythm

• use of different more specific tunes

• early dance tunes: example Trenchmore

Armstrong

Trenchmore

early dance tune

Trump or Jews Harp

example for new instruments for dances in 18th century

• characteristics:

  • Traditional or vernacular

  • transmitted aurally

  • played for the folk

  • 3 main types of dances were popularised:

  —> Jigs

  —> Reels

  —> Hornpipes

  • Similar dances amongst different levels of society

  • Rise of professional musicians -> hired to play for balls and assemblies

  • dance music intersected with popular culture, which spread across western europe

• instruments:

  —> declined use of old trad. instruments, especially harp

  —> invention and introduction of new instruments (jew-harp)

• jigs, reels, hornpipes as most important dance tunes

• popularity of newer instruments (fiddle and uilleann pipes),

• different performance contexts à crossroads dances and balls/assemblies