A glossary of some key terms associated with Irish music and culture. From the various types of tunes like jigs, reels, and airs, to the distinctive instruments such as the uilleann pipes and bodhrán, to terminology related to dance forms, historical contexts, significant musicians, and regional styles, this glossary provides a starting point for anyone looking for a basic understanding of the context of Irish traditional music.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Air (Aer) | A slow, expressive melody, often the musical setting of a traditional song. |
| Amhrán | A song in Irish, particularly a traditional or folk song. |
| Ballad Group | A band specializing in performing ballads. |
| Barn Dance | A type of dance tune, similar in structure to a hornpipe but often with less syncopation. |
| Blas | The distinctive style or flavor of a musician’s playing. |
| Bodhrán | A traditional Irish frame drum, played with a wooden stick called a tipper. |
| Bothy Band | A band renowned for its influential role in modernizing traditional Irish music. |
| Bouzouki | A stringed instrument, adapted from the Greek bouzouki, used in Irish music. |
| Ceili Band | A group of musicians playing for a céilí dance. |
| Ceili (Céilí) | A social gathering featuring Irish music and dance. |
| Claddagh Ring | A traditional Irish ring, symbolizing love, loyalty, and friendship, often associated with cultural heritage. |
| Craic | An Irish term referring to fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation, often used in the context of music sessions. |
| Cran | A complex ornamentation used primarily in uilleann piping. |
| Crossroads Dance | An informal outdoor dance, historically significant in rural Irish communities. |
| Cúil Aodha (Coolavokig) | A style of sean-nós singing from the Muskerry Gaeltacht in County Cork. |
| Cut | A quick, percussive grace note. |
| Diddley Bow | A single-stringed instrument, used occasionally in folk music, including Irish music. |
| Drogheda | A town in Ireland known for hosting the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a traditional music festival. |
| Dynamics | The use of volume variation to enhance musical expression. |
| Fáinne | A badge indicating fluency in the Irish language, often seen in traditional music and culture. |
| Fiddle | The term for the violin in Irish music, central to the tradition. |
| Fleadh (Fleadh Cheoil) | A traditional music festival, featuring competitions, sessions, and concerts. |
| Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic) | Terms and phrases in the Irish language related to music. |
| Gaelic Revival | A movement focused on the revival of Irish language and culture. |
| Gan Ainm | “Without name,” used for tunes whose titles are unknown. |
| Grúpa Cheoil | A group of musicians playing traditional Irish music, often competitively. |
| Harp | A traditional stringed instrument, embedded in Irish history and culture. |
| Hornpipe | A dance tune with a distinctive swing or dotted rhythm, often slower than reels. |
| Jig | A dance tune characterized by a lively tempo and a time signature of 6/8. |
| Laments | Songs expressing sorrow or mourning, often slow and emotive. |
| Lilting | Traditional singing imitating instrumental music. |
| Mazurka | A dance tune of Polish origin, adopted into Irish music. |
| O’Carolan | Turlough O’Carolan, a famous Irish harpist and composer of the 17th century. |
| Ornamentation | Techniques to embellish melodies, including trills, rolls, cuts, and crans. |
| Phrasing | How melodies are articulated and structured in segments. |
| Planxty | A tune composed in honor of someone, often in a harp style. |
| Polka | A fast dance and tune type in 2/4 time, popular in parts of Ireland. |
| Port | An older term for a tune, equivalent to “jig” or “reel.” |
| Pub Session | A session of traditional music held in a pub. |
| Puirt à beul | Gaelic singing involving mouth music or nonsense syllables. |
| Reel | A fast, lively dance tune type, typically in 4/4 time. |
| Ríl | The Irish term for “reel.” |
| Roll | A combination of grace notes enveloping a primary note. |
| Sean-nós Dance | An older, improvised solo dance form with low-to-the-ground steps. |
| Sean-nós Singing | An ancient style of unaccompanied, highly ornamented singing in Irish. |
| Set Dance | A formal dance involving multiple couples, set to specific music. |
| Session (Seisiún) | An informal gathering of musicians playing traditional Irish music. |
| Sliabh Luachra | A region in Ireland known for its distinctive music style. |
| Slide | A tune type, similar to a jig but generally faster, from the Sliabh Luachra region. |
| Slow Air | A type of air played very slowly and expressively, often from traditional songs. |
| Spéirbhean | “Sky woman” in Irish poetry and song, used metaphorically. |
| Strathspey | A dance tune originating from Scotland, found in Irish music. |
| Synge, J.M. | An Irish playwright and poet, reflecting Irish folklore and traditional life. |
| Tin Whistle | A simple, inexpensive wind instrument widely used in Irish music. |
| Trad | Short for “traditional,” often referring to Irish traditional music. |
| Trill | A rapid alternation between two adjacent notes. |
| Uilleann Pipes | A type of Irish bagpipe known for its complex fingering and softer tone. |
| Willie Clancy Summer School | An annual summer school in Irish music and dance, held in County Clare, Ireland. |
