Celtic Fusion

Fusion

Fusion occurs when Irish performers and composers mix elements from other traditions with Irish music

Traditional Irish features:Last note repeatedModalNo dynamicsOrnamentationPerformance unaccompanied Use of traditional Irish instruments and

dances are other features of traditional Irish music

Fusion

Fusion is heard when non-traditional features and instruments are combined in pieces with more traditional elements

Popular fusions occur between:Irish trad and rock (Horslips’ Dearg Doom)

Fusion

Irish trad and classical (Shaun Davey’s Granuaile Suite)

Fusion

Irish trad and jazz (Micheál Ó Súilleabháin’s Oiche Nollag)

Fusion

Irish trad and pop (The Corrs’ Runaway)

Fusion

Irish trad and ethnic traditions (Afro Celt Sound System’s Release)

Fusion

Even Irish trad and hip hop (House of Pain)

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin Born in Tipperary in 1950 Studied music in UCC and

Queen’s Now Chair of Music at

University of Limerick where he founded the Irish World Music Centre

Also has a very successful career as a performer and composer who fuses Irish music with Jazz and Classical sounds

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin would have had a very classical style of training in music while he was a student in UCC in the 1970s

He was trained to play the piano and harpsichord

He mixes his love for Irish music with his classical training in his pieces and has developed a unique style as a performer and composer

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin Classical Features

Classical elements in his music include:

the frequent use of the piano (heard in Oiche Nollag and Fiach an Mhada Rua)

the inclusion of orchestra on occasion (Between Worlds and (Must be more) Crispy)

the use of dynamics and expression (The Pretty Milkmaid)

the use of scale-like runs the inclusion of harmony and

accompaniment

Mícheál Ó SúilleabháinIrish Features

Irish elements in his music include: a very rhythmic style of piano playing the inclusion of ornamentation repeated last notes extended use of dance rhythms (jig in

The Fox Chase, reel in Oiche Nollag) the use of Irish instruments, notably

the bodhran and bones (played often by Mel Mercier)

Mícheál Ó SúilleabháinJazz Features

In 1993 he founded the ensemble, Hiberno-Jazz

Free form jazz is his chosen type of jazz. This places strong emphasis on improvisation

Jazz features heard include: Use of jazz notes (flattened 3rd and

7th) Use of jazz instruments, notably the

saxophone, often played by Kenneth Edge

Use of syncopated rhythms