Happy St. Patrick's Day
Featured on Sunday 06 March, 2022
Happy St. Patrick's Day
The fiddle and tin whistle are calling,
To kick up your heels and give t' floor a battering.
Raise your cruiskeen and give a cheer,
St. Patrick's Day is finally here!
Leaping lads and ladies
Reels, hornpipes, slides, flings and more! To start you on your toe-tapping adventure, see Irish Washerwoman. This is an example of the most common type of Irish jig - the double jig.
The Kerry Dance is an Irish ‘long dance’, although it does share characteristics of a ‘single jig’ and can be used to accompany this dance too. Historical notes are included on your download, with teaching suggestions here. This song is available in D Major and F Major.
What's in a name?
DID YOU KNOW: The names of many Irish dance tunes had absolutely no relevance to the actual music. For example ‘The Goat in the Green’, also known as ‘Frog in the Well’ and ‘Old Apples in Winter’; ‘Going to the Well for Water’ and ‘Stack of Barley’. When the need or desire arose for a musician to name their composition, they would often simply look around them for inspiration!
Are the pipes calling you?
Perhaps songs of the heart echo in your ears when you think of Irish music. The dulcet, desolate tones of 'O Danny Boy' (Londonderry Air) seem to call to us all with reminders of loved ones lost. This song is like an anthem to those affected through the years by the Irish Diaspora with echoes also of famine and wars. This type of 'sean-nós', (pronounced shan nohss) or slow air, means 'old style' and is steeped in the rich, organic tradition of Irish music.
Catch that leprechaun!
But let’s not forget the songs that bring a twinkle to the eye. Humorous, cheeky songs, born perhaps from the resilience of the Irish. Find out the history in this download of the canny Phil, who concocted a cunning plan to get himself out of debt. Available in A Major and C Major.
Our St. Patrick’s day collection would not be complete without songs of mischievous, little green men with a loot of gold stashed at the rainbow’s end.
Whichever type of Irish music you are drawn to, we hope you have a rattlin’ good time on St. Patrick’s day! And remember to help yourself to the free Irish resources listed here for you to help celebrate the heart and soul of Irish music!
More information
For a detailed list of types of Irish dances and other Irish music see A Comprehensive Guide to Irish Tune Types - Hannah Harris Ceol.
For more information about the deeply respected art form of sean-nós Irish song tradition see Singing in Irish – The Sean-nós tradition - Irish Music Daily.
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