Folk Music of Ireland - Instruments Used in Traditional Irish Music

Instruments Used in Traditional Irish Music

The guitar and bouzouki only entered the traditional Irish music world in the late 1960s. The word bodhrán, indicating a drum, is first mentioned in a translated English document in the 17th century,. The 4-string tenor banjo, first used by Irish musicians in the US in the 1920s, is now fully accepted. Céilidh bands of the 1940s often included a drum set and stand-up bass as well as saxophones. Neither the drum kit nor the sax are accepted by purists, though the banjo is. Traditional harp-playing died out in the late 18th century, and was revived by the McPeake Family of Belfast, Derek Bell, Mary O'Hara and others in the mid-20th century. Although often encountered, it plays a fringe role in Irish Traditional music.

Instruments such as button accordion and concertina made their appearances in Irish traditional music late in the 19th century. There is little evidence for the concert flute having played much part in traditional music. Traditional musicians prefer the wooden simple-style instrument to the Boehm-system of the modern orchestra. The mass-produced tin whistle is acceptable. A good case can be made that the Irish traditional music of the year 2006 had much more in common with that of the year 1906 than that of the year 1906 had in common with the music of the year 1806.

There is a three-cornered debate about which instruments are acceptable. Purists generally favour the line-up that can be heard on albums by The Chieftains, The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, and The Bothy Band. Modernists accept the drum kit of The Pogues and The Corrs, and the electric guitars of Horslips. Classically-influenced composers such as Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and David Downes will accept the piano.