8/16/2019 Celtic Music Review

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Celtic Music: A Brief Overview

Style   • Slightly wider intervals than in western music

•  The slight diference in tonality gives Celtic music its Celticavor

•  Trills and ornamentationRhythm   •  Traditionally simple

• Lots o quarter and eighth notes

• Driving, aggressive are good words to descrie rhythm!elody"#armony  • Strong emphasis on melody

• !elodic imitation

• !elody switches etween instruments requently

• !ainly homophonic $%ust one melody&

• Limited range on most instruments $melody con'ned&

•

Repetition $oten with variation o some sort&(nstrumentation   • !andolin

• Lute

• )iddle

• #arp

• *agpipes $wide range&

• *odhr+n)orm"Structure   • Strong, de'ned melody line

• Lots o melodic variation rom other instruments $mostlypipes"utes and harp&

• ide range o style - rom rela.ing to pulsating• #eavy eat rom drums accompanied y melody and melodic

variation rom pipes and utes $sometimes including strings&• )lows up and down the staf 

• Sometimes includes vocals - /aelic chanting"reathy vocals

*ut !erida0 #ow will ( e ale to identiy a Celtic piece on my (* !usic e.am111

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Noble Maiden Fair (A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal) - 5atric6 Doyle"3mma ThompsonKingdo !ance - 7lan !en6enN"l #$%n &' - Celtic oman