Folk Music and Dances of Ireland: A Comprehensive Study Exam

Trad Irish Music
1

Anyone familiar with this book? I saw it on Amazon, but without much explanation of its content.
Folk Music and Dances of Ireland: A Comprehensive Study Examining the Basic Elements of Irish Folk Music and Dance Traditions by Breandan Breathnach
Is it historical information or a breakdown of the structure of the music, or
what?
And while I’m at it, anyone know if there’s much overlap between 110 Ireland’s Best Slow Airs and Tomas O’Canainn’s book of similar title?
Tony

2

Is it historical information or a breakdown of the structure of the music

It’s a bit of both. I think it offers a good, basic grounding about Irish traditional music and dance. It is not an in-depth treatise of structure, but when I was more of a novice player, his short description of “linking” notes was a revelation.

I also appreciate Breathnach’s views on the tradition.

Feel free to PM if you’d like more details.

Table of Contents:

  1. Irish Folk Music
  2. The Structure of the Music
  3. Song-Airs and Songs
  4. Dancing
  5. The Dancing Master
  6. The Dance Music
  7. Musical Instruments
  8. Traditional Techniques and Styles
  9. The Great Collectors
  10. Some Comments and Conclusions

Appendix I: Examples of the Music
App II: Slected Recordings of Irish Traditional Music
App III: Glossary of Irish Terms and Translations
App IV: Index of Titles
Bibliography

3

The book is still available, plus there’s a CD of recordings by various people that the text refers back to. This was Breathnach’s opinions after his own extensive research and experience. It caused a bit of controversy amongst some academics, but many consider it good in-depth look and introduction to ITM. NPU also publishes a collection of other writings by Breathnach called The Man and His Music.

Book and CD available from Ossian USA: http://www.ossianusa.com/

djm

4

Yeah, I have it. Its paperback size and is pretty concise. It also has an accompanying cassette which I have but I haven’t listened to in a long while.

I will bring it to Dana’s (still waiting to hear if my son competes on Sat or Sunday that weekend though). Or stop by sometime and have a gander.

5

i have both these books and while they broadly cover the same ground there are aspects or views of ITM in the one which are not in the other.
i personally prefer Breathnach’s but only because i don’t really warm to O Canainn’s style of writing.
and i now see that i am not answering the question. i was talking about Folk Music and Dances of Ireland by BB and Traditional Music in Ireland by TOC and not the air books.
ah well the gargles just dimmed me brain.

slán

mick ó c