Irish Trad Dance essay

Question 1

Name the five dance types to discuss

Answer 1

Jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and slides

Question 2

Where do a lot of dance tunes get their origin from? - first line

Answer 2

In songs and airs that were sped up to facilitate dancers for example ‘Top of Cork Road’ was known as ‘Father O’Flynn’

Question 3

How are dance tunes usually divided

Answer 3

Usually divided into two parts of eight bars each, where each part is played twice.

Question 4

What is the most popular and common dance, what is it used for and describe it

Answer 4

Most popular an common in the Irish tradition is the reel. Reels are used for step, figure or set dancing. The time is 2/2 or 4/4 and each beat is made up of four quaver notes. The reel tempo can vary from region to region and depending on the player.

Question 5

Give an example of a reel

Answer 5

‘St Anne’s Reel’

Question 6

Name four types of jig to mention

Answer 6

Double jig, slip jig, single jig, hop jig

Question 7

Which type of jig is the most common tune type

Answer 7

Double jig

Question 8

What are jigs played for?

Answer 8

Figure and step dances

Question 9

Explain a double jig with example

Answer 9

Has a time signature of 6/8 and two mains beats per bar. ‘Coleman’s Jig” -example

Question 10

Explain a single jigs with example

Answer 10

In either 6/8 or 12/8 time and differ from double jigs by their crotchet quaver rhythm. Single jigs sped up are slides. EX: ‘Off she Goes’

Question 11

Explain slip jig with an example

Answer 11

Time signature of 9/8 and there are three beats in each bar. Example: ‘Kid on the Mountain’

Question 12

Who usually dances a slip jig

Answer 12

Danced in soft shoes usually by women.

Question 13

Explain a hop jig

Answer 13

Not very common. It is played in 9/8 with a crochet quaver rhythm ex:’Promenade’ played by Michael Coleman

Question 14

Where is Sliabh Luachra

Answer 14

Area of Kerry, Cork, Limerick where there is no border.

Question 15

Explain a Sliabh Luachra

Answer 15

They are faster paced polkas as they do not have many notes in them. They are played as 2/4 time. Example of Sliabh Luachra is the ‘Kerry Polka’

Question 16

What type of dancing are polkas used for

Answer 16

Set dancing

Question 17

Explain the North Connaught polka

Answer 17

These polkas are played much slower as it has many semiquavers. Ex: ‘The dark girl Dressed in Blue’ 2/4 time also.

Question 18

What dance are slides used for

Answer 18

set dancing

Question 19

Explain slides with an example

Answer 19

Fast single jigs ending with two dotted crochets. Prominent in Sliabh Luachra. Time of 12/8. Example: ‘Dan O’Keefe’s Slide”

Question 20

Explain hornpipes with example

Answer 20

Played in 4/4 time include many triplets. Played with dotted rhythms. Ex: ‘Boys of Bluehill’ or ‘The Halloween Nut’

Question 21

What dance are hornpipes used for

Answer 21

Set or step dancing. Dancing masters adopted it as a show piece

Question 22

Order of essay - Headings

Answer 22

Introduction- origins and tunes
Reel
Jigs: double jig, single jig, slip jig, hop jig
Polkas and Slides
Hornpipes