Musique de Ireland

Brève histoire

Early Irish music

By the High and Late Medieval Era, the Irish annals were listing native musicians, such as the following:

921BC: Cú Congalta, priest of Lann-Leire, the Tethra (i. e. the singer or orator) for voice, personal form and knowledge, died. 1011: Connmhach Ua Tomhrair, priest and chief singer of Cluain-mic-Nois, died. 1168: Amhlaeibh Mac Innaighneorach, chief ollamh of Ireland in harp-playing, died. 1226: Aed mac Donn Ó Sochlachain, erenagh of Cong, a man eminent for chanting and for the right tuning of harps and for having made an instrument for himself which none had made before, distinguished also in every art such as poetry, engraving and writing and in every skilled occupation, sadly died. 1269: Aed Ó Finn, master of music and minstrelsy, died. 1329: Maol Ruanaidh Cam Ó Cearbhaill, tiompanist, murdered during the Braganstown Massacre in County Louth. 1330: Mael Sechlainn Mac Carmaic, a general entertainer, died. 1343: Donnchad Clereach Ó Maol Braonáin, a choral canon of Elphin, was killed by an arrow. 1357: Donn Shléibhe Mac Cerbaill, an accomplished musician ... died.

Musique populaire

Modern interpretation

Early Irish poetry and song has been translated into modern Irish and English by notable Irish poets, song collectors and musicians. The 6th century hymn Rop tú mo baile by Dallán Forgaill for example, was published in 1905 in English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne, and is widely known as Be Thou My Vision. The Blackbird of Belfast Lough (Old Irish: Int én bec; Irish: An t-éan beag) has been notably translated by poets such as Seamus Heaney, Ciaran Carson and Frank O'Connor. Notable recordings of modern interpretations of early Irish music include Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin's Songs of the Scribe, various music albums by choral group Anúna, and the recordings of Caitríona O'Leary with Dúlra and the eX Ensemble.