collectors Flashcards
why was irish traditional music never written down
as it was an oral tradition.
the music was never written down but passed on through generations and learnt by ear
it as only in the late 18th century that collectors began to write irish music down
what was the significance of irish collectors
collectors began to write music down in the late 18th century. thousands of irish traditional tunes that have been preserved today may have been lost forever if it werent for the collectors who helped preserve them for future generations.
who was edward bunting
he was the first known collector, and he was employed to dictate music at the Belfast Harp festival where he collected 40 tunes at the festival
what tunes did Edward Bunting collect at the Belfast Harp festival
Sí bheag, Sí Mhór
Lord Mayo
The Fairy Queen
Eibhlí a Rún
what did Edward Bunting do after the festival
he went around Ulster and Connaught collecting more tunes
edward buntings publishings
almost 300 tunes in 3 volumes
1796 - ‘ A general collection of the ancient irish music’
which contained 66 tunes adapted for piano including ‘carolans concerto’
1806- ‘A general collection of the ancient music of ireland’
77 tunes in romatic piano arrangements with some specially written songs in english
includes ‘planxty irwin’
ancient music of ireland- edward bunting
1840
is one of th most important historical sources of information on the old Gaelic Harpers as he lists the damping and fingering techniques used.
contains over 50 tunes arranged for piano such as ‘tabhair dom do lámh’
why is bunting important
he was the first collector to gather tunes in systematic and informative way
his work is invaluable
although he was a classical musician and his work is composed of irish tunes arranged for piano, he sometimes added in notes and features more suited to classical piano playing.
Francis O’Neill
He was an extremely important collector as he emigrated to Chicago to collect tunes there from other Irish immigrants. These tunes might have otherwise been lost
Francis O’Neill publishings
‘The Music of Ireland’
published in 1903. has 1850 tunes, including jigs, reels, hornpipes, airs and o carolan tunes
‘The Dance Music of Ireland’
1907- 1001 dance tunes
is referred toas ‘ the book’
these were the first collections that were aimed towards irish musicians
george petrie
helped set up ‘the society for the preservation and publication of the melodies of ireland’
‘Ancient Music of Ireland’
nearly 200 melodies as well as song texts in Irish and English.
also conains information about the sources of the songs
his daughter composed piano accompaniments for the melodies.
the book was republished in 2002 without the piano accompaniment so the melodies were in their original format.
one song he collected was the ‘Londonderry air’ which was also known as ‘Danny Boy’
