Irish Traditional Music and Dance
World Music Paper #2 Guidelines
As you watch the live performance on YouTube, take notes and be write about the following:
1. What’s going on musically? What kinds of instruments are there? How many? Describe the musical ensemble. Describe the audience.
2. What is/are the name(s) of the piece(s) being performed? Who is the composer? Does this music remind you of other styles have studied?
3. What does the music sound like? Be as descriptive as possible and be sure to consult the musical elements (sound, pitch, dynamics, tone color, voices, instruments, rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, form, etc...)
4. Did you LIKE the music or not? Why or why not? Is this the type of concert that you would go to on your own, if you weren’t required to? You do NOT need to say that you liked it if you didn’t! You will not be graded on whether or not you liked it. However, it is important to have an opinion, one way or the other.
Layout of paper
I. Introduction: This paragraph should include the following information: what was the event, where was the concert held, when was this performance, who performed, and what kind of music was performed?
II. Body: The body should include an analysis of the performance. If possible, address each of the elements of music in your evaluation (sound, instrumentation, rhythm, form, texture, melody, harmony, style). You will only have space to talk about 2-3 pieces. You can do this by comparing them or something of the sort. This is the majority of your grade. You must engage with the terms to explore what you hear.
III. Conclusion: Give a summary of your overall impression of the performance. Give some historical context. Did you enjoy the concert? Did your opinion of the music change at all during the performance?
Format
Your paper should be typed and double-spaced. Use Times New Roman, font size 12, and one- inch margins. Your paper should be a minimum of 750 words.
Irish Traditional Music and Dance
Student name
Institution
Professor
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Date
Irish Traditional Music and Dance
The concert was a showcase of traditional Irish music and dance held at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, Massachusetts, in 2017, presented by the Mass Cultural Council. The musical ensemble consisted of four performers who played traditional Irish instruments, including tin whistle, flute, Irish bouzouki, and uilleann pipes. The audience comprised people of all ages and backgrounds, enthusiastic about traditional Irish music and dance.
Several pieces of traditional Irish music were performed during the concert, each with its distinct style and flavour. One of the tunes was a lively jig performed on the tin whistle and accompanied by the Irish bouzouki (Mass Cultural Council, 2017). Another song was a long, sorrowful ballad played on the flute, highlighting the haunting beauty of Irish music. The following piece was a vibrant reel performed on the uilleann pipes that showcased traditional Irish music's intricate rhythms and rich melodies. Matt Heaton was responsible for the composition of each of these pieces. The guitar was employed mainly as a rhythm instrument, giving a sturdy basis for the other instruments' melodies and harmonies to develop (Mass Cultural Council, 2017). The tin whistle provided a bright, piercing sound, the flute added a more delicate and ethereal aspect, and the uilleann pipes produced a rich and nuanced tone.
The music emphasized melody, with each instrument taking turns playing the lead and improvising variants on the subject. The rhythms were intricate and frequently syncopated, emphasizing the offbeat. The harmonies were bare, emphasizing the interaction between the melodic instruments and the rhythmic accompaniment (Mass Cultural Council, 2017). Overall, the music was very expressive and emotive, with a strong sense of narrative and an affinity for Irish culture. The concert grabbed the audience, with many tapping their feet and clapping hands.
The music was distinguished using ancient Irish instruments such as the tin whistle, flute, Irish bouzouki, and uilleann pipes. The pitch was frequently high and melodious, with the instruments performing complicated melodies that interwove and overlap. The dynamics varied, with some works offering calm, soft moments and others more boisterous and explosive (Mass Cultural Council, 2017). The music's dynamics added to the works' emotional depth, with the softer moments communicating desire or sorrow and the busier sections oozing exhilaration and vigor.
The tone color was rich and varied, with each instrument bringing its unique sound. The tin whistle had a bright, piercing tone, while the flute had a more mellow, melancholy sound. The Irish bouzouki had a deep, resonant tone, and the uilleann pipes had a haunting, almost otherworldly quality. The instruments’ voices blended well together, creating a cohesive ensemble that captured the essence of traditional Irish music (Mass Cultural Council, 2017). The rhythm in the jig and reel pieces was lively and upbeat, with intricate patterns that kept the audience clapping their hands. The ballad had a slower, more mournful rhythm that conveyed the piece’s emotion. The musical form of the pieces was largely repetitive, with the melody being played several times with slight variations and embellis...