The influence of Irish music on American music
Emigration, such a strong feature of Irish history has resulted in large populations of Irish decent in areas of North America such as Boston, New York, Chicago. Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec , Ontario and the Appalachians are areas of North America where there has been a large Irish influence on the development of music.
Irish musicians like Sligo fiddlers, Michael Coleman, James Morrison and the Flannagan brothers became part of the part of the commercial recording scene in the early 20th century.
Francis O'Neill, collected and published many tunes in Chicago at this time.
In recent years, many Irish-American musicians have emerged including, Eileen Ivers (fiddle) and multi instrumentalist, Seamus Egan.
T.V. series Bringing it all back home deals with the topic of how Irish music influenced and was influenced by other types of music in the U.S.
Irish musicians like Sligo fiddlers, Michael Coleman, James Morrison and the Flannagan brothers became part of the part of the commercial recording scene in the early 20th century.
Francis O'Neill, collected and published many tunes in Chicago at this time.
In recent years, many Irish-American musicians have emerged including, Eileen Ivers (fiddle) and multi instrumentalist, Seamus Egan.
T.V. series Bringing it all back home deals with the topic of how Irish music influenced and was influenced by other types of music in the U.S.
The majority of those who emigrated from Ireland to America in the 18th Century settled in the Appalachian mountains. They brought with them a rich tradition of song and dance tunes which merged with the music of other settlers including European, British and African to become Appalachian "old time" music. American country music originated in Appalachian music and there were other links to bluegrass and rock n roll.
American collector of 1950s Jean Ritchie, was interviewed on "Bringing it all back home". She had written extensively on the subject of Appalachian music and visited Ireland and Britain in the 1950s to trace the music to its source. She speaks of how in the 18th Century Irish melodies were used and adapted using American words
Examples of songs which are still sung include The "Rambling Irishman". She also performs an Irish tune which became an Appalachian children's song " Old King Cole". Tommy Makem and the Clancy brothers also featured prominently and told of how Irish music took on an American identity as songs like the "Bard of Armagh" became "The Streets of Laredo" which in turn became the blues standard "St. James Infirmary."
American collector of 1950s Jean Ritchie, was interviewed on "Bringing it all back home". She had written extensively on the subject of Appalachian music and visited Ireland and Britain in the 1950s to trace the music to its source. She speaks of how in the 18th Century Irish melodies were used and adapted using American words
Examples of songs which are still sung include The "Rambling Irishman". She also performs an Irish tune which became an Appalachian children's song " Old King Cole". Tommy Makem and the Clancy brothers also featured prominently and told of how Irish music took on an American identity as songs like the "Bard of Armagh" became "The Streets of Laredo" which in turn became the blues standard "St. James Infirmary."
Sligo man MICHAEL COLEMAN emigrated to and settled in New York around 1917,
In 1921 he began his recording and during the 1920's and 1930's Michael made approx. 80 commercial recordings with major recording companies. The Fiddiling tradtion of Newfoundland and Quebec in Canada has been greatly influenced by the Coleman and his fiddling style can now be heard in Nova Scotia. Tunes played in Ireland featured in the North American fiddling traditions such as “St. Anne’s Reel”. Many jigs in Cape Breton date back to Irish settlers and their fiddle players still ornament jigs, reels, marches and slow airs with grace notes, trebling and double stopping.
Irish structures and forms can be found in American tunes such as ‘Fred Finn’s Polka’.
Similarities between Irish and Appalachian music include double stopping in fiddle playing, modal ornamentation and singing similar to sean nos with a nasal quality and vocal improvisation. Versions of Irish tunes can be found in American traditional music also. Other songs brought over by immigrants and a shared repertoire of music now exists between British, American and Canadian folk performers. ‘Rose Connolly’ an American folk song was originally noted down by Edward Bunting in Derry in 1811.
In 1921 he began his recording and during the 1920's and 1930's Michael made approx. 80 commercial recordings with major recording companies. The Fiddiling tradtion of Newfoundland and Quebec in Canada has been greatly influenced by the Coleman and his fiddling style can now be heard in Nova Scotia. Tunes played in Ireland featured in the North American fiddling traditions such as “St. Anne’s Reel”. Many jigs in Cape Breton date back to Irish settlers and their fiddle players still ornament jigs, reels, marches and slow airs with grace notes, trebling and double stopping.
Irish structures and forms can be found in American tunes such as ‘Fred Finn’s Polka’.
Similarities between Irish and Appalachian music include double stopping in fiddle playing, modal ornamentation and singing similar to sean nos with a nasal quality and vocal improvisation. Versions of Irish tunes can be found in American traditional music also. Other songs brought over by immigrants and a shared repertoire of music now exists between British, American and Canadian folk performers. ‘Rose Connolly’ an American folk song was originally noted down by Edward Bunting in Derry in 1811.
Many festivals in the USA and Canada play host to Irish musicians every year. The Ireland Newfoundland Festival is an annual festival that alternates yearly
between the Island of Newfoundland and Ireland. This festival is a unique
opportunity to explore what has been called "the most Irish place in the
world outside of Ireland" - where family names, accents, music and rituals
from Southeast Ireland are dominant to this day.
Waterford City and surrounding areas have strong connections with Newfoundland. An estimated 33,000 people from this area had settled in Newfoundland by 1820.
between the Island of Newfoundland and Ireland. This festival is a unique
opportunity to explore what has been called "the most Irish place in the
world outside of Ireland" - where family names, accents, music and rituals
from Southeast Ireland are dominant to this day.
Waterford City and surrounding areas have strong connections with Newfoundland. An estimated 33,000 people from this area had settled in Newfoundland by 1820.
Influence
of traditional Irish Music on the Music of North America
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of traditional Irish Music on the Music of North America
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