About the Book
Focus: Irish Traditional Music is an introduction not only to the instrumental and vocal traditions of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but also to Irish music in the context of the Irish diaspora. Ireland's size relative to Britain or to the mainland of Europe is relatively small, yet its impact on musical traditions beyond its shores has been significant. From the performance of jigs and reels in pub sessions as far-flung as Japan and Cape Town to the worldwide phenomenon of Riverdance, Irish music functions as a
- Part I: Irish Music in Place and Time, focuses on the development of musical traditions and their linkages with historical trends and events in Ireland.
- Part II: Music Traditions Abroad and at Home, locates Irish music within a larger ‘Celtic’ music framework, including the North American Irish diaspora, and focuses on the instruments and instrumental forms.
- Part III: Focusing In, closely examines vocal music in Irish-Gaelic and English, and in doing so reveals the core values of a global marketing phenomenon.
The accompanying CD presents both traditional and contemporary sounds of Irish music at home and abroad.
