CELTIC MUSIC

INSTRUMENTS AND COMPOSERS

INTRODUCTIONThe term celtic music is for the purpose of Ceolas, it covers the traditional music of the celtic countries - Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany (in France).The people who live in these locations are known as Celts, which is how the music became known as Celtic music. Celtic music is best described as a type of folk music with a distinctive music and lyrics. And, today Celtic music is played and heard not only in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Galicia (in Spain) but also on a worldwide stage.

Celtic music can be defined also as music of the Celt people and has been around for several centuries. Some of the common instruments heard in Celtic music include violin, lute, flute, bagpipe, harp and several other commonly heard instruments.While Celtic music has been traced back to the 1600's, it is still one of the world's most popular musical genres. Musicians such as Clannad, Enya, The Chieftains and The Corrs are some of the most famous Celtic musicians of today.

IRISH TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS :THE UILLEAN PIPE AND THE BAGPIPE

Several forms of bagpipe are used in celtic music. The basic instrument has a bag of air, inflated by blowing through a blowpipe. Arm pressure on the bag sends air through a reed on a fingered chanter which makes the sound. The usual range is about two octaves.

More popular in Ireland, and a lot quieter are the uilleann pipes. It has a range of two octaves and often has keys, the uilleann pipes have regulators, extra pipes which can play certain chords.

IRISH TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS:THE BODHRAN AND THE TIN WHISTLEThis is a goatskin drum used widely in Irish music and also becoming popular in other celtic areas.

The tin whistle is a simple metal tube, with six holes and a mouthpiece like a recorder, and a range of about two octaves.

IRISH TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS:THE FIDDLE AND THE FLUTE.

Flutes of one sort or another have been played in the celtic countries for over a thousand years. Modern traditional flutes are usually copies of these early instruments, and almost always made of wood. Their cylindrical bore and wooden construction give a hollow, airy tone, softer than the classical flutes and much smoother than the tin whistle.

The fiddle is an instrument exactly the same as a violin. It has f-holes, 4 strings a chin rest and a tail piece exactly like a violin. It is simply the term used in traditional music.

POPULAR MUSICIANSEithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin in english Enya Patricia Brennan born 17 May 1961 better known as her stage name Enya, is an Irish singer, songwriter, musician and producer.

The Corrs is an Irish band that combine pop and rock with traditional Irish themes within their music. The group consists of the Corrs siblings, Andrea with the lead vocals and the tin whistle, Sharon with the violin and vocals, Caroline with the drums, percussion, piano, bodhrán and vocals and Jim playing the guitar, piano, keyboards and vocals. They are from Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland.

A FAMOUS CELTIC SONG: “LONDONDERRY AIR”

THE ENDCASEY PORTELLI