Irish fiddling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Irish fiddle is one of the most important instruments in the traditional repertoire of Irish music. The fiddle itself is identical to the violin, however it is played differently in widely-varying regional styles. Modern performers include Gerry O'Connor, Martin Hayes, Kevin Burke, Sean Smyth, Paul Shaughnessy, Matt Cranitch, Marie Reilly, Bridget Regan, and Frankie Gavin. Sligo fiddlers like Michael Coleman did much to popularise Irish music in the States in the 1920s.
Examples include the Kerry and Donegal fiddle traditions.
In Irish fiddling there are few known composers, as many tunes have been taught by ear and passed down from one generation to another. Also, many players adjusted tunes to suit their style and taste, so there can be many variations for a particular tune.
[edit] External links
- Mac Aoidh, Caoimhín. "Regional Styles in Irish Fiddling - Part III". Retrieved September 6, 2005.
- The third (and final) part of this article lists the major fiddle styles of Ireland and describes them. (The first part covers the geography that helped separate different regions, and the second discusses exactly what makes a style distinct.)
