Traditional Instruments Flashcards
Tin whistle
Price/describe/tuned
History
Type of music/ornamentation
examples and players
The tin whistle is a popular wind instrument that is very inexpensive to buy. It is a metal tube witch a mouthpiece and six holes running up the tube. The tin whistles are most commonly tuned to C or D.
The whistle was first used in Irish traditional music in the early 19th century, although similar instruments seem to have been used much earlier. It was during the Industrial revolution that the whistle gained in popularity, becoming more easily accessible and cheaper.
They are usually played in groups and used for dance style traditional music. Very skilled players can use various types of ornamentation on the instrument a great example of this is in The Irish Way by Robbie McGowran.
Other players include Paddy moloney and Mary Bergin.
Bodhrán
Meaning/describe instrument/made of
History
How to play/ held
Players and examples
The word Bodhrán is said to mean Deafening or Thunderous Drum. The Bodhrán is a frame drum made from a circle of wood (ash) upon this we have the stretched skin of an animal. Usually that of a goat.
It was first introduced into modern Irish Traditional Music by Seán Ó Riada. He put arrangements for the Bodhrán into the music of his group Who later became known as the Chieftains.
A frame drum is played by either striking it with your bare hand or with a piece of wood called a tipper, beater, or cipín. The drum is usually played in a seated position. A hand is placed on the inside of the skin where it is able to control the tension and therefore pitch.
Some players include: christy moore and Kevin conneff
Fiddle
Strings
How it is played/held/ornamentation
Sound and finger board/ violin
Examples and players
This is probably one of the most popular traditional irish instruments. It has four strings G D A E and is played with a bow.
The fiddle is played using first position only. It can be held against the shoulder or upper arm. The fiddle is popular as it can accommodate different styles and ornamentation. Styles vary from region to region meaning in one part of Ireland it is very ornamentation and another part of Ireland it’s not.
To make a less harsh sound you put less pressure on the bow. It has an unfretted finger board. The fiddle is very similar to the violin but the fiddle contracted on traditional music rather than classical.
Fiddle players include frankie Gavin and Zoe Conway. You can hear the fiddle very well in Seven Drunken nights by the dubliners
Uilleann pipes
Describe instrument/tuned
History/extinction
Meaning
Examples and players
The Uilleann Pipes are a very unique instrument.they are quite expensive to buy. The instrument has lots of different parts, these include: the bags,bellows, regulators, chanter and three drones. The main tune is played in the chanter. The Uilleann pipes can be tuned in D or Eb.
The Uilleann pipes are said to come old Irish war pipes which are similar to the Scottish pipes. The instrument nearly went extinct but organisations like na Piobarí Uilleann around Ireland have kept the instrument alive.
The word uillean actually means elbow in Irish so the instrument is named the elbow pipes and they are held under the elbow. The pipes have a sweet but mellow sound.
An example of players would be Liam o Flynn and paddy moloney.
You can really hear the sound of the Uilleann pipes in dark slender boy by Liam o Flynn
