Irish Dance Music

Dancing is part of every culture and Irish culture is no different. Our historical records do not show the music or the dance steps but we do know the names of several types of dances for example “The sword dance” and “The Haye” Irish Dance Music

Music was unwritten and musicians played and learned tunes by ear. Their tunes were passed from one generation to the next just like all Irish Music. They must have had excellent memories as a skilled musician could play any one of several hundred tunes on request. Irish Dance Music

Irish Dance Music • From the 1750s onwards, Dance Masters travelled from village to village. • They were often accompanied by a fiddler or piper. • They taught the jig, reel, hornpipe and set dances. • There are more than 7000 dance tunes.

Irish Dance Music Jig • Time Signature 6 8 • A single jig has the typical rhythm crotchet, quaver. The Three Note Jig • A fast single jig is often called a slide: Kerry Slide No. 2 • A Double Jig has the typical rhythm 3 quavers. East of Glenart. • The slip/hop jig is in 9 8 time. Nead na Lachan Sa Mhuta

Irish Dance Music Jigs: The Three Note Jig

Irish Dance Music Jigs: East of Glenart

Irish Dance Music Jigs: Nead na Lachan Sa Mhuta

Irish Dance Music The Reel • The reel originated in Scotland. • It is a fast dance in 2 4, 4 4 or 2 2 time. • A typical rhythm is 2 groups of 4 quavers. • The round is played two/three times before a new reel is introduced. • Example: The Rakes of Mallow

Irish Dance Music Reel: The Rakes of Mallow

Irish Dance Music Hornpipe • This dance is of English origin. • It is in 4 4 or 2 2 time. • It is slower than a reel. • There is an accent on the first and third beat. • The rhythm is dotted. See board for an example. • Example: Harvest Home

Irish Dance Music Hornpipe: Harvest Home

Irish Dance Music • The slide is a really fast single jig in 6 8 time • Traditionally it was heard in the areas of Clare, Cork, Limerick and Kerry. • It was particularly associated with Sliabh Luachra on the Cork/Kerry Border • The slide was often used for set dancing. The Slide

Irish Dance Music • The Polka is a fast dance in 2 4 time • It is also associated with Clare, Cork, Limerick and Kerry but can be heard all over the country • This was also often used for these sets. The Polka

Irish Dance Music • These are solo dances. • They usually use a jig or hornpipe rhythm and the second section is longer than the first. • They required a very skilled performer. • Each tune has it’s own particular dance • E.g.. St. Patrick’s Day Set or long Dance

Irish Dance Music • These derived from the quadrille a French dance popular during Napoleon’s time • They were adapted with native steps and speeding up the the tempo to hat of a jig/reel. • Full set was 4 couples, a half set was two couples • Each area developed their own variation • E.g. The Kerry Set Sets and Half-sets

Irish Dance Music Structure of Irish Dance Tunes • There are usually 32 tune bars in total. This is called the round. • This is divided into two 16 bar sections. • The first section is called the Tune. This consists of an 8 bar phrase that is repeated (called A) • The second section is called the Turn. This also consists of an 8 bar phrase that is repeated (B)

Irish Dance Music Structure of Dances

Irish Dance Music