Instrument History, Importance, Visual Qualities Flashcards
What are the ITM instruments I need to know about?
fiddle, harp, uilleann pipes, accordions (piano, box, melodeon), concertina, wooden flute, tin whistle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, bodhran, bones, clavinet
Describe the harp’s importance/history
national symbol of Ireland, most popular instrument in Ireland until the 17th century, generally associated with women today but historically associated with men (as music was mainly learned and performed by men)
Describe the harp’s instrumental/visual qualities
22-36 strings (nylon or gut - the latter is older and less common today), older Irish harps were portable and a lot smaller
Describe the uilleann pipes’ importance/history
the only instrument designed and developed for Irish music, dated to the late 18th century, uilleann = elbow, mainly associated with men
Describe the uilleann pipes’ instrumental/visual qualities
PARTS: cloth covered leather bag, double reed chanter, drones, bellows, regulators (to change the notes of the pipe - like a harp pedal)
Describe the fiddle’s importance/history
same instrument as the violin, one of the most famous and accessible instruments (most commonly associated with Irish music/sound), appeared in Ireland in the 1600s
Describe the fiddle’s instrumental/visual qualities
can imitate the pipes’ ornaments (need practice, otherwise is how the two sounds are differentiated), left hand controls the melody notes (like on a guitar with frets) - right hand controls the sound (with the bow)
What are the different types of accordions?
piano accordion & melodeon (first invented, less popular now), button/box accordion (most common today) - ALL USE RIGHT HAND FOR MELODY AND LEFT HAND FOR BASS
Describe the instrumental qualities of concertinas
both hands contribute to the melody (pull/push), can’t play drones or harmonies
When are accordions and the concertina from?
the late 19th century
Describe the importance/history/visual qualities of flutes
made of wood (not metal), no keys-only holes, originated from baroque flutes (late 18th century), super popular in the North/West of Ireland
Describe the importance/history/visual qualities of whistles
each tuned to a specific key, easy to play (6 holes in a row), cheap, portable, often the first instrument one learns when wanting to play Irish music
How are flutes and whistles similar?
they use similar fingerings
Describe the guitar’s importance/history
first arrived in Ireland as a parlour instrument (associated with the upper classes) IN THE 19TH CENTURY, became popular in ITM in the 20th century (played as a harmony - introduced chords into ITM), generally only on guitar in a jam session (can get too jumbled with two improvised chords at a time)
Describe the guitar’s musical/visual qualities
6 strings
Describe the mandolin’s musical/visual qualities
tuned like a fiddle (sibling instrument), 8 strings (4 pairs), plucked with a pick (can’t do chords)
Describe the banjo’s importance/history
became popular in the 1960s (due to the folk revival in the US)
Describe the banjo’s musical/visual qualities
plucked strings, 4 strings (also tuned like a fiddle), loud sound (good for playing dances/loud events)
Describe the bouzouki’s importance/history
originally a Greek instrument (someone brought it to Ireland in the 1970s)
Describe the bouzouki’s musical/visual qualities
tinny and metallic sound, plays the melody or accompaniment, Irish bouzoukis have 8 strings (4 pairs), Irish bouzouki has a flat back (the Greek one is rounded)
Describe the history/importance of the bodhran
became popular in ITM after 1950,
Describe the bodhran’s musical/visual qualities
wooden frame with goatskin stretched across it, lots of tonal and rhythmic possibilities (based on where you hit it and have your hand on the inside)
Describe the bones’ history/importance
became popular in the 1960s after being highlighted by the Chieftans
Describe the bones’ musical/visual qualities
pair of percussive sticks, historically cow ribs - often wooden today
Describe the importance/history of the clavinet
used by Stevie Wonder, often used in many genres of music like funk, jazz, reggae, rock, and soul
Describe the clavinet’s visual/musical qualities
amplified keyboard (needs to be connected to an amp), metallic strings (metallic sound), plays chords and low notes, kind of droney, (4 pickups - 2 on top, 2 underneath)
