TIN WHISTLE
The tin whistle is one of the most widely played instruments in Irish traditional music—it is
inexpensive, portable, relatively easy to learn to play, and versatile as a musical instrument.
The tin whistle is made of a plain cylindrical metal tube having six holes running down the front
with a plastic whistle mouthpiece (or fipple) covering one end of the tube.
The player places the pads of the index, middle, and ring fingers of the left and right hands over
each of the holes. The player then blows into the mouthpiece of the whistle. The player must
increase air pressure blown into the whistle to play higher notes or to increase dynamics.
It is easy to make a sound on a tin whistle but much more difficult to become skilled on the
instrument.
The most commonly played tin whistle is in the key of D, as that is the most common key
signature in Irish dance tunes, but tin whistles are also available in the keys of B flat, C, D, E flat,
F, and G.
In this video clip we see Mary Bergin, one of the most acclaimed Irish tin whistle players and
teachers. As you will hear, her playing style is bright, clear in tone, and highly ornamented.
In this video Bergin is playing a reel. The reel is the most popular tune-type within the Irish
tradition. Look to this week’s reading by Sean Williams to learn more about the reel and other
dance tune types.
Click the link above to view a video of Mary Bergin playing the tin whistle
Fiddle
The fiddle has been used in Irish traditional music for over two hundred
years. The Irish fiddle is physically identical to the violin played in
classical music but differs in sound and performance practice.
The distinguishing feature of the Irish fiddle is the manner in which it is
played. Most traditional fiddlers play in first position, meaning the fingers
of the left hand do not have to move as far up the neck of the instrument.
Because of this, you might see Irish fiddlers holding the fiddle against
the upper chest or shoulder instead of firmly under the jaw and above
the collarbone as a classical violinist does.
The fiddle may be the instrument most closely associated with regional
styles of playing—the most distinguishable ones are Donegal, Sligo,
Clare, and Sliabh Luachra.
In this Video example we see Liz Carrol playing a…..Liz Carroll is a
native Chicagoan and first generation
Irish American. She learned music and dancing in the US, while making
frequent trips to Ireland. She is a prolific composer of Irish traditional
music and a highly demanded fiddle instructor. In 1994 she received a
National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award, the first IrishAmerican female to do so.
Click on the ink above to see Liza Carrol play the Irish fiddle.
Unlike the flute, fiddle and harp, which all were brought to
Ireland from Europe, the uilleann pipes is the only instrument developed
in Ireland. It should be noted that the word uilleann is also the Irish word
for “elbow” and perhaps refers to the way in which the player holds the
bag of the instrument under the left arm or elbow. Earlier versions of this
instrument can be found in Ireland dating back to the 11th century, but
the Uilleann pipes is thought to have developed in Ireland in the early
18th century and reached its developed form in the early 19th century.
By the mid-19th century it was being widely played throughout the
country.
The uilleann pipes is a bellows-blown bagpipe. The instrument has three
main acoustical sections, the chanter, drones and regulators. The
uilleann pipes is played in a sitting position with the bellows strapped
under the right arm. The bag is held under the left arm and both the
drones and regulators rest across the right knee. Musical production is
quite complicated to describe. To create a sound, the player inflates the
bag with the bellows, turns on the drones, and moves the fingers on the
holes of the chanter to play melodic notes.
In this video clip we see famed uilleann piper Seamus Ennis. He is
attributed with reviving the Uilleann pipes as well as promoting Irish
tradional music and collecting vast numbers of traditional tunes and airs.
In this video clip we hear Ennis playing a slow air rather than a dance
tune. Click on the video to view Ennis play the uilleann pipes player
collector and folklorist and acclaimed music
Bodhrán
Percussion instruments are only a recent addition to Irish traditional dance music, as the sound
of dancers feet tapping the ground was generally used to mark out the beat of the music. The
bodhrán (bowrawn) is an old style of drum, which was used primarily for folk traditions or street
celebrations. The borawn appeared on recordings beginning in the 1970s, and has earned a
place in Irish traditional music performance ever since.
The bodhran is made of goatskin stretched over a round wooden frame. It is about 18 inches in
diameter and is held against the body with the left hand, and struck by the right hand with a
two headed stick called a tipper.
Bodhran players outline the form of a tune through a series of up and down strokes on the head
of the drum. Some players also strike the rim of the drum to create variations in the rhythmic
pattern.
In this video clip we see Bodhran player Josselin Fournel. As you see he is performing solo, and
is a bit less concerned about outlining a dance tune than in demonstrating his technical
virtuosity on the instrument. However, this video clip provides an excellent example of the
various percussive sounds and effects that can be created on the bodhran.
Click on the video to view this bodhran performance.
The bodhrán has only relatively recently become a popular instrument in Irish traditional music.
A true
B false
What part of your fingers cover the holes on the tin whistle while playing
A) The pads
B) The nails
C) The joints
From which country did the Uilleann pipes originate
A) Scotland
B) Ireland
C) England
How many strings does a fiddle have
A) 3
B)4
C)5
IRISH FLUTE
The flute used in Irish traditional music is held transversely—meaning it is
horizontal to the ground, and the player blows across the mouth plate to produce a sound.
The Irish flute is most commonly made of a hardwood (such as African blackwood). The
th
flute entered into the Irish music scene in the 19 century, and up until 20 or 30 years,
most flutes played by Irish musicians were antiques of English or German origin.
However, in recent times Irish instrument makers such
as Hammy Hamilton have
developed a very good simple system Irish flute and many if
not most Irish flute players
opt to purchase a new Irish traditional flute.
Silver keyed concert flutes may also be used but they are not as readily accepted
or considered truly “authentic” by some traditional musicians, until the player has proven him
or herself as proficient playing with an Irish style. Players of silver flutes are more common in
the US than in Ireland (Joannie Madden of
C
herish the Ladies
and Noel Rice
of
Baal Tiné
are two examples).
The Irish traditional wooden flute has six to eight ho
les and may be keyless or
with keys. The Irish flute is most often tuned in the ke
y of D but music in other keys may
be played on the flute—through the use of alternate fingeri
ngs, half covering of the holes,
or use of keys (if those are present on the flute). Nota
ble Irish traditional flute players
include Vincent Broderick, Eamonn Cotter, Kevin Crawford, Se
amus Egan, Michael
McGoldrick, John McKenna, and Laurence Nugent.
The dance tune is in a jig. The jig has been in the Iris
h repertory since at least the
17
th
century. There are several types of jig—the double jig
in 6/8 time (the type of jig
Intro to Irish Music***Spring 2005***Erin Stapleton-Corcoran
3
featured on this example) and the single jig, which is in 6/
8 time as well but has a
different rhythmic pattern. On this example we hear an additional selection of Ir
ish flute music played by
Seamus Egan. Egan was born in Philadelphia to Irish pare
nts. The family returned to
Ireland (County Mayo specifically) when he was a small
child. While in Ireland he
learned to play traditional music and by age 14 he had won f
our All-Ireland competitions
on four different instruments: flute, tenor banjo, mando
lin, and tin whistle. Egan is most
know for his work with the music group Solas, as well a
s his contribution to
The Brothers
McMullen
soundtrack.