Hurdy gurdies have been played since Medieval times. For centuries, hurdy gurdy players entertained everyone from royals to peasants. Nowadays, the instrument has a small but passionate fanbase in early and folk music circles. Even with that fanbase, though, they’re niche instruments. You can’t just go to your local Guitar Center and expect to find…
So, you want to learn the tin whistle. Great choice! It’s a fun instrument, with a lot of expressive possibilities packed in. Tin whistles are relatively inexpensive, and easy to find for sale online or in a shop. No wonder the whistle is one of the first instruments a lot of Irish musicians pick up….
The concertina is one of the most unique sounds in Irish music. It’s particularly associated with Co. Clare, where concertina players were once almost as plentiful as sheep in the Irish countryside. While concertina playing declined during the middle of the 20th century, it has come roaring back. Today, there are plenty of brilliant young…
Music is one of Ireland’s greatest exports, and there are many Irish folk bands active around the world. Whether it’s singing, instrumental music, or a combination of both, there’s plenty to draw from in the Irish tradition. Many bands have taken that a step further, weaving the sounds of other musics and traditions into the…
Drums like the bodhran have been played in Ireland for centuries. But it’s only recently that an explosion of new interest in the instrument has taken off. Nowadays, you can find bodhrans for sale all over the world, by a wide variety of makers. When you’re looking for a bodhran, be aware that there are…
The tin whistle is often one of the first instruments a player picks up on their journey through Irish music. Because of this, many people don’t quite take it as seriously as they should. Listening to these tin whistle players is a perfect cure for any such snobbery! The tin whistle has been played in…
The concertina is one of the little wonders of the music world. There are an amazing amount of buttons, levers, reeds, and mechanics stuffed into a small and portable box. They’ve been particularly popular in Irish and English folk music, and have a strong association with sailors. When it comes to buying one, there are…
The tin whistle is one of the most fun instruments to play. Small enough to put in your pocket, it has a sweet, chirpy tone that is perfect for a variety of music. Often, it’s the first instrument someone picks up when they start learning Irish music. There are many places to find tin whistles…
One of Ireland’s most cherished traditions is singing. From the Irish-language sean-nós (“old style”) to rebel ballads to rowdy drinking songs, Ireland has a rich catalog of folk songs and singers. They tell the story of hundreds of years of laughter and tears, oppression and perseverance, feast and famine. The 1960s folk revival brought a…
Think of Irish music, and chances are you think of the fiddle. Fiddle players have a special place in Irish tradition, from the traveling dance masters of the 18th century through to today’s young virtuosos. Francis O’Neill, collector and chronicler of Irish music, once wrote that the fiddle is, in the minds of many, the…
