|
|
 Na Fidleiri: Our Music
Na Fidleiri members learn and perform Celtic music - primarily music that is Irish in origin.
As early as 1160, an account of the Carman Fair from the Book of Leinster describes the chief entertainments of medieval Ireland as the harp, the bone whistle, a two-drone bagpipe, and a tympan (a stringed instrument played with a bow). The word "fiddle" was coming into common use but referred to the tympan, not the violin that we know today. As an instrument easily adapted to dance tunes, the fiddle vied with the Union Pipes for popularity and came to enjoy a healthy place in cultural esteem by the end of the 17th century. The fiddle was perhaps less expensive and more easily come by than the pipes, but more importantly, the fingering was flexible and allowed the accomodation of all forms of ornamentation.
Though the pipes had an important influence in popular dance music, the body of dance music played today was undoubtedly written by fiddlers. By the mid-18th century, the fiddlle had outpaced the pipes in popularity. Although the fiddle has no distinctively Irish characteristics to its makeup (as do the Union Pipes), it has develped styles of playing that are uniquely suited to Irish music, especially dance music. In any event, the fiddle, harp, and pipes are frequently found in sweet harmony amongst contemporary players.
- Jigs. The jig is probably the oldest form of dance music surviving. Most existing jigs are at least melodically Irish in original. Some of those that are most popular today were composed by fiddlers and pipers in the 18th century! There are three jig forms: the single, the double, and the slip jig. Jigs are usually in 6/8 time. Examples from Na Fidleiri's repertoire include "Night in the Glen" (a single jig) and "Butterfly" (a slip jig).
- Reels. The reel (in 4/4 time) is a more recently developed form than the jig, dating from the mid-18th century. Reels are among the most popular tunes for dancing Some of Na Fidleir's favorite reels include "Farewell to Ireland, "Drowsy Maggie", and "Cooley's Reel".
- Slow Airs. The slow airs (such as "Lord Massarene", "Londonderry Air", and "Star of the County Down") can also be placed in the category of goltrai or weeping music. Most of the slow airs played today are either original contemporary compositions or derived from written rather than traditional sources.
Irish tunes are still in a process of evolution and new tunes are currently being written which feature influences from all over the world. Without a doubt, the best way to understand Irish music is to learn to play, for the peculiarities of this rich tradition can never be understood from books or the ear alone. |
|
|
