Traditional Irish Folk Music 1

Traditional Irish Folk Music /Celtic Folk.

The first area of 'World Music', or perhaps 'The World's Music'/'Music of the World', we are investigating is Traditional Irish Folk music. I use the word investigating to encompass the fact that for each of these areas it wouldn't be enough to simply watch a few YouTube clips or listen to a few tracks. 

This will become a more in depth study as it progresses. Instrumentation, structure and even the socioeconomic climate during the development and history of the music will all need to be taken into consideration.

My own introduction to traditional Irish Folk music, like many peoples, can probably be traced back to 'The Pogues'.

Formed in London in 1981, as an adaptation and progression from singer Shane MacGowans earlier band, 'The Millwall Chainsaws'. The Pogues styled themselves as a Celtic Punk band using traditional folk instruments instead of the atypical instruments of a punk band.

My first introduction to The Pogues, unlike many people for whom it was 'Fairy tale of New York', started with the album 'Rum Sodomy and the Lash'. An album that mixes covers of both traditional Irish and English Folk songs, as well as songs written by The Pogues. One of my favourite being an original track called 'Wildcats of KilKenny'2.

In the next post I will start looking at instrumentation of Traditional Irish Folk music.

Reference:

The Pogues (no date) Shane MacGowan  Available at: http://www.pogues.com/PastPogues/SMacGowan/SMacGowan.html> (Accessed; 26 September 2013).

SwindonByf (2008)The Pogues - Wildcats of Kilkenny  Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f1APnWRAMo (Accessed: 26 September 2013)