Ceili bands essay - Irish Trad Flashcards
What are ceili bands?
new phenomenon gaining popularity in the 1st half of the 20th century
what do they solely play for?
Irish dancing
when was the first ceili organized?
1897 in London by the Gaelic league
what does the word ceili mean?
a gathering of people for dance
how should a ceili band play?
loud enough so it can be heard by everyone in a large hall over the noise from dancing feet
what do the instruments play?
melody in unison
how many players are in a standard ceili band?
ten players
instruments of a ceili band?
accordion
concertina
harmonica
uillean pipes
banjo
fiddle
mandolin
flute
tin whistle
snare drums
piano vamping
why is the position on the stage important?
for balance
what instruments are in the front?
fiddles and flutes
whats a little behind the fiddles and flute?
banjo
what instruments are the furthest back?
accordion and concertina since they are the loudest
what is the furthest from the dancers?
snare drums and piano
well know ceili bands?
kilfenore
ballinakill
tulla
The main features of a ceili band
no harmony
vamping on piano
snare drum on steady beat
ornamentation
dance rhythms in strict steady beat
tradition Irish melody instruments